Letter from China: Australia’s LNG dominance under threat
Beijing may be planning to break its reliance on its Antipodean supplier
LNG stands out as one of the few commodities left relatively unscathed by the deterioration of China-Australia relations over the past few years. But Beijing is taking steps that could erode Australian dominance of Chinese gas imports in the long term. The tension between Beijing and Canberra has already cost Australia its dominant market share in China for goods including barley, beef, wine and coal—all commodities for which China has easily been able to find alternative sources. Australian LNG has been harder to substitute, given the binding, multibillion-dollar long-term contracts signed between state-owned Chinese buyers and Australian export projects, and also the fuel’s importance to e
Also in this section
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
1 December 2025
The North African producer’s first bidding round in almost two decades is an important milestone but the recent extension suggests a degree of trepidation
