China’s US LNG imports stall: Chinese imports of US LNG have stalled for 40 days — its longest pause in almost two years — as energy traders divert shipments to other buyers to avoid China’s 15% duty on US LNG, Bloomberg reports, citing ship-tracking data. Chinese LNG buyers in long-term contracts with US projects are reselling shipments to Europe, and there are no US shipments currently en route to China.

Shifting focus: Chinese firms are looking towards the Middle East and Asia-Pacific for LNG supplies rather than making new commitments with US facilities, Bloomberg reports. China’s Resources Gas International inked a 15-year contract earlier this week with Australia’s Woodside Energy Group Ltd to supply LNG starting in 2027. China is also aiming to boost its local energy production, with output growing 3.7% y-o-y in the first two months of this year.

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