China's May Gas Imports Up on Year

China imported 7.41mn metric tons natural gas (pipeline and LNG) in May, up about 37% year on year, customs data showed June 8. In the first five months of 2018, China imported about 34.8mn mt of gas, compared with 26mn mt in the same period of 2017.

China’s gas imports have been trending higher since the start of 2017 as the government pushed households and industries to switch from coal to gas. During full year 2017, Chinese gas imports totalled 68.57mn mt, up 27% year on year. That included record Chinese LNG imports of 38.13mn mt, up more than 46%.