China stopped importing US liquefied natural gas (LNG) in March, marking a complete halt after sharp declines in the previous two months.
Official customs data shows US LNG deliveries to China plunged 70% in the first quarter of 2025, the steepest drop since the last major trade war when shipments paused for over a year.
Rising tensions between the world’s largest LNG buyer and seller have again disrupted trade. China has imposed a 125% tariff on all US goods, prompting a shift in supply to countries like Indonesia and Qatar.
March saw a 24.5% drop in overall LNG imports — the biggest monthly decline since November 2022. Imports have now been falling for five straight months. Meanwhile, pipeline gas from Russia slightly increased, though total volumes remain lower than seaborne deliveries.
China is leaning more on coal and renewables to reduce reliance on volatile spot markets. According to BloombergNEF analyst Daniela Li, LNG imports could fall by up to 12% this year if tariffs stay above 100% through the next six months. Overall, gas consumption is expected to see only minimal growth in 2025.
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