Asia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) market is showing signs of recovery after months of disruption caused by the Iran conflict and supply interruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.
Renewed buying by China, the world’s largest LNG importer, has helped lift regional demand, signaling improved market confidence.
According to commodity analytics firm Kpler, Asia is expected to import around 21.8 million tonnes of LNG in June, the highest monthly volume in five months and slightly above the level recorded a year earlier.
The rebound follows a sharp decline in April, when LNG imports fell to a six-year low after supply disruptions from Qatar tightened global availability.
China has resumed spot LNG purchases as prices eased from the record highs seen during the peak of the Middle East crisis.
Japan has also increased imports to meet summer electricity demand, while India is diversifying supplies through imports from the United States, Nigeria and Angola to reduce dependence on Qatar.
