China 2025 LNG Imports Plummet Amid US Friction and Slow Growth

The world's largest energy buyer is backing off. China's imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have plunged throughout 2025, signaling a seismic shift in global energy markets. A combination of a stuttering domestic economy and escalating trade tensions with the U.S. has forced Beijing to halt most American fuel shipments for the better part of the year.

Why China 2025 LNG Imports are Plummeting

According to reports from Reuters, the decline comes at a critical time as new production projects are set to come onstream. The sudden drop in demand creates a looming surplus. In February 2025, drone footage at Yantai port in Shandong province already showed a thinning schedule for arriving tankers, a trend that solidified as the year progressed.

A Fragile Economy Meets Geopolitical Hardball

China's economic indicators have been flashing red. Retail sales have slowed sharply, bogged down by a persistent property downturn. This domestic weakness has crippled industrial gas consumption. Simultaneously, the strategic decision to bypass U.S. energy reflects Beijing's intent to reduce vulnerability to Western sanctions, even if it means paying a premium elsewhere.