A 25% tariff and higher global prices prompt Chinese buyers to redirect a US LNG shipment instead of importing it.
Chinese buyers plan to resell a US liquefied natural gas cargo received earlier this month, avoiding a 25% tariff and capitalizing on stronger prices in other markets. The shipment, the first from the US to China in over a year, arrived at Yangpu port from Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG terminal in Louisiana.
The cargo was offloaded into bonded storage rather than entering China’s domestic market. US LNG exports to China have been sporadic due to trade tensions and shifting global energy demand. Prior shipments faced similar tariff-driven rerouting or delays.
No immediate market reaction was reported, though the move highlights ongoing trade frictions and arbitrage opportunities in global LNG markets.