Chinese companies have taken advantage of the energy crisis caused by the consequences of the war with Iran and have started selling liquefied natural gas (LNG) at higher prices. This was reported by Reuters, citing data from analytical companies Kpler, Vortexa and ICIS.
Since the beginning of the year, China has transshipped a record 1.31 million metric tons of LNG, a total of 19 shipments, 10 of which were delivered to South Korea, 5 to Thailand, and the rest to Japan, India and the Philippines. In 2025, China resold only 0.82 million tons, and in 2023 - 0.98 million tons.
China has been able to resell record volumes of LNG as its own demand for gas has plateaued: a slowdown in economic activity is reducing industrial demand, while domestic gas production and pipeline supplies from aggressor russia are rising.
The LNG sales contrast with China's decision last month to ban exports of petroleum products to preserve supplies for domestic consumption.
"With weak domestic demand, it made more sense for buyers to resell LNG shipments overseas," ICIS analyst Wang Yuanda told Reuters.
He added that there was no demand pressure because the heating season was over and spot prices were good, allowing China to ship LNG.
LNG prices in Asia have jumped 85% since Israel and the United States launched a war against Iran, effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz and disrupting global energy supply chains from the Middle East.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on April 1, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, said that the situation with disruptions in the supply of oil and LNG will worsen this month. According to him, it will greatly affect European countries.
As a reminder, on March 25, Reuters reported that about 40% of rTanker. Photo: Depositphotosussia's oil export capacity was stopped due to Ukraine's strikes on the russian ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk on the Baltic Sea.
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