An LNG tanker docks in Tianjin, China
Weather and pricing key to Asia’s winter LNG demand
Nuclear availability in Japan and South Korea will also be an important factor in determining overall LNG requirements
Asia’s LNG demand outlook for the coming winter will depend in large part on he weather, nuclear availability and—for some of the newer markets—pricing, Kaushal Ramesh, head of gas and LNG analytics at consultancy Rystad explained as he spoke with Petroleum Economist for the Energy Oracles podcast series. The largest LNG markets in the world are concentrated in Northeast Asia. China and Japan are the two biggest, with South Korea and Taiwan also being significant importers. And while China has some domestic gas output, overall there is a lack of significant production in the region, making it “much more dependent on LNG imports, while LNG storage is fairly expensive”, said Ramesh. That means
Also in this section
19 March 2026
The regional crisis highlights the undervalued role of fixed pipelines in the age of tanker flexibility
18 March 2026
Rising LNG exports and AI-driven power demand have raised concerns that US gas prices could climb sharply, but analysts say abundant shale supply and continued productivity gains should keep Henry Hub within a range that preserves the competitiveness of US LNG
18 March 2026
Risks of shortages in oil products may cause world leaders to panic and make mistakes instead of letting the market do what it does best
17 March 2026
The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny
