Analytics firm Kpler reports that while imports remain steady compared to last year, the monthly volume represents a notable uptick from the 4.9 million tons recorded in May. Domestic production has faltered, and with storage levels sitting at 46% capacity—well below the five-year average—the country faces a persistent need for foreign supply throughout the third quarter.

Despite its aggressive expansion into solar and wind energy, China remains heavily reliant on coal and pipeline gas to anchor its power grid. To hedge against future instability, the nation is expanding its import infrastructure. Beijing is currently preparing a new terminal specifically designed to handle shipments from Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 project. Although the Russian facility is under EU sanctions, Chinese officials have maintained they will not adhere to those restrictions, aiming to bring the new terminal online by October to insulate the domestic market against winter demand surges.