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 Administrati

on 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.