China's August Gas Output Up
China’s natural gas production in August was 12.9bn m3, up 9.7% year on year, according to statistics bureau data released mid-September. Production was, however, flat month on month.
In July China produced 13bn m3 of natural gas, up 10.5% year on year. The growth rate in production in August is second highest this year, after July. During January-August, natural gas production was 104bn 3, a year on year increase of 5.9%.
Chinese state-owned explorers have ramped up output to meet strong domestic demand. Last year, China's natural gas production was 147.42bn m³, up 8.5% year on year, according to statistics bureau data.
Strong demand has not only resulted in higher domestic output, but gas imports have also seen a sharp surge. China’s gas imports have been trending higher since the start of 2017. Last year, Chinese became world's second biggest LNG importer.