Moscow. April 20. INTERFAX.RU – Supplies of U.S. liquefied natural gas to Asian markets are decreasing as supplies to Europe are increasing, customs statistics of the largest LNG consumers – China and Japan – show.

Europe is actively trying to reduce its dependence on Russian gas through alternative supplies, including LNG from the United States. The European market for LNG from the United States is the most convenient in terms of logistics.

At the same time, its supplies to China have practically stopped. And if the unexpected absence of U.S. raw materials in the January statistics could be explained by a one-time failure, the February summary confirmed the objectivity of this trend. According to Chinese customs statistics, Beijing did not receive a single shipment of U.S. LNG in January 2022, while one tanker arrived in February. In January and February 2021, approximately 13 LNG shipments – totaling 0.9 million tons – were received from the US.

U.S. LNG shipments to Japan in the first three months of 2022 more than halved to 1.25 million tons from 2.72 million tons in the first quarter of 2021. At the same time, in the monthly breakdown, the decline is increasing month by month: in January shipments fell one and a half times – to 651 thousand tons, in February 2.3 times – to 411 thousand tons, in March 4.3 times – to 190 thousand tons.

Russian LNG supplies to China for the first two months of this year increased by 40% to 722 thousand tons. Exports to Japan grew by 12% to 2.143 million tons over the quarter, including an 11% increase in March to 710 thousand tons.

Cumulatively for two months China reduced LNG imports by 15% to 9.494 million tons, Japan reduced purchases by 12% to 20.4 million tons in the first quarter.

In Russia, the Sakhalin-2 plant (co-owners Gazprom, Shell, Mitsui, Mitsubishi) and Yamal LNG (participants – NOVATEK, TotalEnergies, Chinese CNPC and SRF) produce large-capacity LNG.