Tianjin tops China’s LNG import ports

The northern China city accounted for one fifth of LNG imports into the giant Asian energy consuming nation during January to May 2020. The bulk of its imports came from Australia, Russia and Asean member nations

TIANJIN has emerged as the top import destination for liquefied natural gas in China, accounting for almost one fifth of the country’s overall inbound shipments of the supercooled fuel during the first five months of this year.

Tianjin’s LNG imports rose 24.8% year on year to hit 4.97m tonnes, or 19.5% of China’s overall imports, the Xinhua news agency reported, citing data from Tianjin Customs.

Shipments from Australia, Russia and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations made up 75.4% of Tianjin’s total LNG imports.

Lloyd’s List has earlier reported too that Tianjin was among the destination ports for the first China-bound cargoes from export projects in the US when LNG trade resumed in April between the two countries.

Tianjin’s LNG import capacity is set to expand, with China National Offshore Oil Corp having set out to expand its receiving terminal there.

China’s thirst for LNG is fed by a national drive to switch from coal- to gas-fired power generation.

Four new terminals are also being built in Guangdong province.

PetroChina is expected to break ground on its 3m tonnes per annum Jieyang LNG project, with completion targeted for December 2023, Argus Media reported.

The national oil company is building a second terminal with the same capacity in Shenzhen.

Sinoenergy is pursuing a 1m tonnes per annum terminal in Chaozhou while Pacific Oil & Gas and Guangdong Energy are developing a 2.8m tonnes per annum project in Yangjiang.