In 2021, an average 35.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas was consumed in China, more natural gas than in any previous year. More than half of the natural gas consumed in China in 2021 came from domestic production, but China also imported record amounts of natural gas by pipeline and as liquefied natural gas (LNG), surpassing Japan as the largest LNG importer for the first time, based on data from Global Trade Tracker and China’s General Administration of Customs. After becoming the world’s largest LNG importer in 2021, China reduced its LNG imports by approximately one-third in the first seven months of this year. LNG imports in China have decreased this year for the first time since 2015. The decline in LNG imports was driven in part by the slower economic growth, high spot LNG prices, robust growth in hydro and non-hydro renewable power generation that displaced more expensive gas-fired power-generation, as well as government policies, which this year reprioritized supply security and economic stability over emissions targets.
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