China's January Gas Imports Up 27%

China’s natural gas imports (pipeline and LNG) in January stood at a record 9.81mn metric tons, up almost 27% year-on-year, according to Chinese customs department data published February 14.

Gas imports in January were also higher month-on-month. In December, Asia’s biggest economy imported a 9.23mn mt of gas, according to customs department data.

During the whole of last year, China’s natural gas imports saw a sharp 31.9% year-on-year growth owing to strong demand. According to Chinese customs department data published January 14, the country imported 90.38mn mt last year, as LNG and pipeline.

China’s gas imports have been rising since the start of 2017 as the government aggressively implemented the coal to gas switching programme, especially in the northern part of the country.