Chinese gas demand set to rebound
The Asian giant’s LNG imports slumped last year but look likely to recover in 2023
The end of pandemic lockdowns and Beijing’s renewed emphasis on economic growth will be a welcome stimulus for Chinese gas consumption, which declined last year for the first time in a generation. But demand could still be choppy amid market uncertainties. China’s apparent gas consumption edged down by 1.7pc year-on-year in 2022, to 366.3bn m³, according to the latest official figures. The contraction marked a departure from the previous growth trajectory, as higher global prices and tight pandemic controls depressed domestic demand. At the same time, lower Chinese demand offered relief to Europe as governments from Berlin to London scrambled to secure LNG supplies as an alternative to Russi
Also in this section
17 January 2025
Supply glut or supply deficit are both plausible outlooks, with tariffs and sanctions among the key risks that could swing the pendulum
17 January 2025
European Commission is on its way to meeting clean energy goals, but energy security concerns and higher costs may give it second thoughts
17 January 2025
The CEO of QatarEnergy has highlighted the potential impact a new EU directive could have on energy exports to the continent
16 January 2025
The government’s resource nationalism is aggravating the NOC’s debt position and could yet worsen if also tasked with the decarbonisation shift