A tanker at China’s Tianjin LNG terminal
Rising Chinese LNG imports are no threat to Europe
China’s intake of the fuel rose by 12.6% in 2023 and will continue to increase this year, but this looks unlikely to cause trouble for Europe
China’s LNG imports are expected to grow again this year after last year’s increase helped the country once again surpass Japan as the world’s top LNG buyer, but a further rebound in Chinese inflows is unlikely to come at the expense of supply for other key import markets such as Europe. LNG deliveries to China in 2023 climbed by 12.6% year-on-year, to 71.32mt, surpassing Japan’s imports of 66.15mt, which declined by 8.1%, according to official customs data from each country. Although China’s LNG volumes remain below the all-time high set in 2021, due in part to cheaper alternatives, major LNG market players expect the nation to drive global demand growth for the next decade. China’s gas dem
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
