Chinese LNG imports fallen in recent months
China holds the key for European winter LNG
Demand in the East Asian powerhouse is the major variable for pace of deliveries into the Russian gas-starved continent
“The big lifesaver for Europe has been the considerable drop in Chinese LNG demand, driven by high spot prices, renewed Covid lockdowns—which have hit economic activity—and a focus on maximising cheaper alternative sources of gas supply, including domestic production and pipeline imports.” So says Laura Page, LNG analyst at cargo tracking firm Kpler. But the key question as Europe faces winter demand with huge uncertainty over how much Russian gas will flow is whether any increase in China’s requirements will crimp availability for its existing and new terminals. “It has been surprising how much LNG has come to Europe so far this year [see Fig.1], considering how tight the market balance was
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
1 April 2026
The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries
31 March 2026
Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally
