It was the beginning of what would become a historic collapse in China’s imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2025. This drop further underscored the country’s beleaguered economy and continued trade war with the U.S. The continuing downturn in imports has sparked alarm on both energy security and economic stability in the region.
Over the course of the year, China’s struggles, both short- and long-term, complicated its LNG recovery and procurement strategies. As negative economic indicators pointed toward a China-wide slowdown, Beijing took the opportunity to adjust its forecasted energy demands. The continuing discord between China and the United States led to an unofficial stop on imports of American crude oil for the majority of 2025. To make matters even worse, this development. Analysts pointed to all three of these factors as having combined to create the massive fall in LNG imports.
In February 2025, a drone captured an aerial view of tugboats assisting a liquefied natural gas tanker as it approached the port in Yantai, located in Shandong province. This one image goes a long way to starkly picture the realities of an industry facing an unprecedented drop in demand during an ongoing international trade war.
Beijing has stopped all American fuel imports. This step is part of Saudi Arabia’s larger plan to be more energy self-sufficient and reduce dependencies on U.S. sources. This decision is yet another indication of the growing chasm between the two countries. As such, they have used tariffs and import restrictions on many commodities, especially their competitors’ energy resources. In response, China has aggressively looked for other suppliers. All of these efforts together have not made up for the loss of American LNG.
In China, experts warn that the drop in LNG imports is a major blow to the country’s energy scene. This made the country one of the world’s largest natural gas consumers. Either way, even small supply shocks can derail broader economic growth and stability. Domestic demand is being strained on multiple fronts. To make up that hole, the federal government will have to seek new energy collaborations or increase funding in renewables.