Platts: China's Feb Pipeline Gas Imports Rise 52% on Year to Record High 3.51 Bcm

China imported a record high 2.54 million mt of natural gas via pipelines in February, 52.1% higher than the same month last year, detailed data from the General Administration of Customs showed Tuesday, March 24.

The customs department reports natural gas trade data in metric tons, similar to LNG imports.

February's pipeline imports equate to about 3.51 Bcm.

The jump was mainly due to a 47.6% increase in inflows from Turkmenistan to 2.22 million mt.

China National Petroleum Corp. is responsible for importing gas from Turkmenistan's state-owned Turkmengas under a long-term deal expected to hit 65 Bcm/year by 2020.

Total imports from the Central Asian country were 18.74 million mt, or nearly 26 Bcm, in 2014.

CNPC also imports gas from Myanmar into China's southern Yunnan province and surrounding areas.

Total volumes from Myanmar in February more than doubled to 295,823 mt, the data showed. MORE