China's January Gas Imports Jump 33%

China’s natural gas imports (LNG and pipeline equivalent) in January were 7.77mn metric tons, up 33% on year, data from country’s customs department showed February 8.

Last month’s imports were very close to the record imports witnessed in December 2017 when China imported all time high 7.89mn metric tons of gas.

China’s gas imports have been trending higher since the start of 2017 as the government pushed households and industries to switch from coal to gas.

During full year 2017, Chinese gas imports totalled 68.57mn mt, up 27% year on year. That included record Chinese LNG imports of 38.13mn mt, up over 46%, making it the new number two importer ahead of South Korea, but still lagging Japan.