{
  "id": 10634178,
  "title": "China's LNG Imports Set for Second Straight Monthly Drop",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/chinas-lng-imports-set-for-second-straight-monthly-drop",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-29T07:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "OilPrice",
    "slug": "oilprice",
    "url": "https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Chinas-LNG-Imports-Set-for-Second-Straight-Monthly-Drop.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China's liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports are projected to experience a second consecutive monthly decline, attributed to soaring prices sparked by the conflict in the Middle East. According to Kpler data cited by Bloomberg, September LNG flows to China are anticipated to be 5.3 million tons, marking an 8% decrease from September 2025 levels and a slight uptick compared to August's estimated 5.2 million tons. China, among the world's largest LNG buyers, has reduced purchases as spot market prices surged to over $20 per million British thermal units in August, reaching $26 per mmBtu in early September - roughly double the prices from a year ago. The price hike is discouraging other Asian energy importers as well, with Kpler forecasting a decline in total Asian LNG inflows to the lowest level in eight years at 20.09 million tons, down from 22.27 million tons in September 2023. For China, the past two months have seen a reversal of a buying surge that commenced in May; over three months, China's LNG purchases were higher than the previous year's. Additionally, China's major state LNG importers are reportedly negotiating long-term LNG supplies from exporters not reliant on the Strait of Hormuz, as Beijing aims to mitigate its exposure to Persian Gulf gas deliveries. While China will not cancel its commitments to Qatar, it is exploring ways to lessen its dependence on Gulf supply. Qatar has extended its force majeure notice for exporting superchilled fuel, likely prolonging elevated prices as demand rises ahead of the Northern Hemisphere's heating season.",
  "summary": "China's imports of liquefied natural gas are on course to book their second consecutive monthly decline because of significantly higher prices driven by the war in the Middle East. September LNG flows to China are seen at 5.3 million tons, according to Kpler data cited by Bloomberg today. This would be 8% lower than LNG imports for September 2025, but slightly higher than August flows, which…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}