China LNG Imports Rise From Eight-Year Low but Remain Well Below Average

China’s imports of liquefied natural gas are rebounding, with the 30-day moving average rising to the highest level since late February, Bloomberg reported today citing shipping data. The number remains below the five-year average but marks an increase from April, when China’s LNG imports fell to the lowest in eight years according to figures from Kpler. 5 million tons.

That volume would represent a 30% drop from a year ago and the lowest China LNG imports since 2018. The war in the Middle East took out a quarter of global LNG capacity. This disruption pushed prices higher and priced poorer importers out of the market.

As a result, overall Asian imports of liquefied gas dropped in March to the lowest in seven years. 12 million tons, according to data from the Gas Exporting Countries Forum. China used to receive almost a third of its liquefied natural gas from Qatar until this March.

Qatar declared force majeure on LNG exports after Iranian strikes on its production and processing infrastructure. The declaration opened a gap in global supply that other producers have found difficult to fill. China has switched to alternatives such as coal, wind, and solar.

Even so, energy importers are ramping up LNG purchases in anticipation of a rise in demand for air conditioning in the summer, Bloomberg noted in its report. As a result, prices have spiked, with the benchmark for trucked LNG gaining 70% since the start of March. The benchmark for trucked LNG is currently standing at the highest since 2023, per Argus Media data cited by Bloomberg.

This makes LNG on the international spot market cheaper, giving importers an incentive to buy more. com reported that these shifts reflect both the immediate supply shock from the Middle East conflict and seasonal factors now pulling buyers back into the market. The article appeared on May 12, 2026.