China may not maintain record gas demand
Gas auctions underperform, signalling a slow start to 2025 after bumper 2024
China’s gas market grew faster than the economy for the second year running in 2024 but appears to be off to a slow start this year as recent gas auctions on the country’s main trading hub for the fuel have been underwhelming—suggesting weak downstream demand over the first quarter that could limit Chinese spot LNG procurement. China’s apparent gas consumption expanded by 8% year-on-year in 2024, to 426bcm, the fastest growth since 2021 and accelerating from an increase of 7.6% in 2023, according to state economic planner the National Development and Reform Commission. The two consecutive years of demand growth followed a surprise contraction of 1.2% in 2022, the same year the bursting of t

Also in this section
24 July 2025
The reaction to proposed sanctions on Russian oil buyers has been muted, suggesting trader fatigue with Trump’s frequent bold and erratic threats
24 July 2025
Trump energy policies and changing consumer trends to upend oil supply and demand
24 July 2025
Despite significant crude projections over the next five years, Latin America’s largest economy could be forced to start importing unless action is taken
23 July 2025
The country’s energy minister explains in an exclusive interview how the country is taking a pragmatic and far-sighted approach to energy security and why he has great confidence in its oil sector