China's September LNG Imports Jump

China imported 5.1mn metric tons of LNG in September, up 17.1% yr/yr, the customs department’s data published October 23 showed. Imports were, however, down on month from 5.19mn mt in August.

During the first nine months of the year, China imported 43.39mn mt of LNG, representing a 17.4% increase compared with the same period of last year.

If the current trend continues, Asia’s biggest economy will end up with another record year in terms of LNG imports. Last year, the country's imports peaked at 54mn mt of LNG.

Meanwhile, China’s pipeline gas imports in September came to 3.12mn mt, down 4.2% yr/yr. During the January-September period pipeline gas shipments totalled 27.83mn mt, up 0.1% yr/yr, the data showed.