Russia supplied a record volume of gas to China in July

By Rhod Mackenzie

Russian companies exported 3.27 billion cubic metres of gas to China in July 2023, which was a record figure in the entire history of trade between the two countries, according to data from the Chinese Customs Bureau.

This is the total volume of both pipeline and liquefied supplies.

This puts the Russian Federation well ahead of other major suppliers, notably Australia, whose gas exports to China amounted to 2.8 bcm, and Turkmenistan (2.7 bcm).

It is reported that the Gazprom holding supplied about 2 billion cubic metres of gas and 1.3 billion cubic metres of LNG to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline (about 15 batches).

In total, China imported 14.12 billion cubic metres of gas by pipeline and in the form of LNG in July (+23% year-on-year), which is also an all-time high for the second month of summer. The last record for pipeline gas imports was set in June 2023 - 5.785 bcm. m. In July it was beaten, reaching 5.93 bcm. m. The year-on-year growth was 10%.

Since the beginning of the year, there has been a planned increase in Russian exports through the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, the agency notes in this regard.

China's LNG imports in July 2023 increased by 33% compared with the same month in 2022 to 6.3 million tonnes (8.2 billion cubic metres), not exceeding the figure for July 2021 (6.65 million tonnes). In July, for the fourth consecutive month, China was ahead of Japan, which imported 5 million tonnes of LNG. China is also now in the lead for the seven-month indicator.

Supplies of liquefied natural gas from Russia to China in July amounted to 1.3 billion cubic metres (1 million tonnes), which is a record monthly volume of fuel supplies from the Russian Federation to China. Russia is currently the third largest exporter of LNG to China, after Australia (2.2 million tonnes) and Qatar (1.3 million tonnes).