China's March gas imports rise 16.7% on year on LNG demand growth

China imported 6.94 million mt of natural gas in March, up 16.7% year on year, as LNG imports play an increasingly vital role in the country's energy mix. 

Imports for the month comprised 4.06 million mt of liquefied natural gas and 2.88 million mt of pipeline gas, up 25.2% and 6.5%, respectively, year on year, latest General Administration of Customs data showed Friday. 
Over January-March, China imported 24.27 million mt of natural gas, up 17.8% year on year. LNG imports for the period rose 21% to 14.95 million mt, while pipeline gas imports increased 13.2% year on year to 9.32 million mt, customs data showed. 

Australia overtook Turkmenistan to become the biggest supplier of natural gas to China in March, sending around 2.042 million mt of LNG through ships, up 13% month on month. 

Turkmenistan was the second largest supplier for the month, exporting around 2.037 million mt of natural gas to China through pipeline, down 10% month on month. 

LNG imports from Qatar fell 39% month on month to 432,323 mt, the second-consecutive drop this year, sharply lower from 1.12 million mt seen in January, according to the customs data. 

March imports were down 8.3% from 7.56 million mt in February, with LNG imports falling 6.8% month on month, while pipeline gas imports dropped 10.3% month on month, the second consecutive drop this year, according to the customs data. The month-on-month decline in March imports was mainly attributed to weaker demand from household users as the winter heating period ended in mid-March and less gas was burnt in the warmer season, market sources said.