From buyer to broker: China's emergence as a global LNG reseller
IEEFA estimates that China resold 17–19 million tonnes of LNG in 2025, with South Korea, Japan, and the Netherlands as leading destinations. Chinese LNG imports fell from 79 million tonnes in 2021 to 66 million tonnes in 2025, while contracted volumes are expected to reach 114 million tonnes by 2028. IEEFA estimates Chinese buyers earned USD4.6 billion from reselling Australian and US LNG since 2021.
Why it matters: This matters for the LNG theme because Chinese resales of surplus contracted volumes could deepen the global LNG oversupply expected this decade.