China increased gas imports in April

In April 2024, China imported a total of 14.737 billion cubic metres (in the form of liquefied natural gas and through pipelines). This represents a 6.5% increase compared to the previous year, according to a report from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China. This represents the highest monthly figure for the country's gas industry to date.
Gas pipelines
The total volume of gas transported via pipelines increased by 13% to 6.2 billion cubic metres. In terms of volume, this represents a new absolute maximum for pipeline gas supplies in the company's history.
The new record was secured by the planned increase in Gazprom gas supplies via the Power of Siberia gas pipeline since the beginning of the year, their continuity (a week-long preventive maintenance was carried out in the previous month), as well as an increase in exports from Central Asia. Following the end of the heating season, demand for gas in these countries decreased seasonally, resulting in a surplus of gas volumes for export. Further increases in pipeline supplies are anticipated next month, in May, due to the additional calendar day.
China receives pipeline gas from five countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Myanmar.
LNG
In April, China received 6.567 million tons of reduced natural gas, a figure that was almost unchanged compared to the previous year (+2%). This figure represents a new record for China’s energy sector, but it is not the highest import total in the country’s history. In April 2021, imports reached 7.032 million tons, despite pipeline supplies being much smaller at the time. China is the largest buyer of LNG globally.
The primary suppliers were Australia (2.7 million tons, +14%) and Qatar (1 million tons, -14%).
Supplies from Russia decreased by 51% compared to the previous year, amounting to 447 thousand tons. The Russian Federation is home to a number of large-scale LNG production facilities, including those operated by Sakhalin Energy (co-owners Gazprom, Mitsui and Mitsubishi), Yamal LNG (participants NOVATEK, TotalEnergies, Chinese CNPC and SRF), Gazprom LNG Portovaya and Cryogas-Vysotsk.
The volume of re-export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) was 48 thousand tons, representing 0.7% of the total volume of LNG received. For the past four months, China has not resold a single large-tonnage shipment. All export activity has been within the framework of distribution or bunkering operations.