CHINA has regained the title of the world’s biggest buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), as a further rebound in deliveries threatens to tighten supply of the heating and power plant fuel.

LNG shipments to China rose 12% last year to nearly 71 million tons, according to ship-tracking data. High prices and virus restrictions had significantly cut demand in 2022, which helped free up LNG shipments to gas hungry nations elsewhere.

Although China’s LNG deliveries remain below 2021 levels, due in part to cheaper alternatives, the nation is expected to drive global demand growth for the next decade.

China’s imports are slated to increase almost 20% to 84 million tons through 2025 and to 136 million tons by 2030, according to Rystad Energy.

Gas makes up just 8.5% of China’s total energy mix, based on data from the Energy Institute, leaving it with plenty of room to grow as it replaces dirtier alternatives like coal.

In Japan, by contrast, gas makes up a fifth of the mix, while it’s a third in the United States.

China imported 17% of all LNG shipments last year, according to ship-tracking data. For comparison, the entirety of western Europe accounted for 26%.  (SD-Agencies)