China boosts LNG imports from Gazprom by 20 mcm/day in year

MOSCOW. March 18 (Interfax) - Gazprom's gas supplies to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline have increased as planned since January, the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China reported. On an annualized basis, there was an increase in exports of 20 million cubic meters (mcm) per day. Including since mid-November, supplies have increased by about 10 million cubic meters. Thus, from January the increase could have been another 10 mcm per day. In addition, the start of Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan could change the gas balance in the Central Asian region and expand export opportunities to China.

China imported 6.060 billion cubic meters of natural gas through pipelines in January 2024, which is a record for the country's gas industry, the Chinese customs service said.

China receives pipeline gas from five countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Myanmar.

Russia's large-capacity LNG plants are Sakhalin Energy (co-owners Gazprom, Mitsui and Mitsubishi), Yamal LNG (participants NOVATEK , TotalEnergies , China's CNPC and SRF), Gazprom LNG Portovaya and Cryogas-Vysotsk.

Chinese Customs will publish a more detailed foreign trade summary, with a breakdown by exporters, on Wednesday.