US LNG Exports Surge as China Emerges as Top Buyer
The trade of liquefied natural gas (LNG) between China and the US has significant potential for cooperation, contributing to global energy stability as international LNG markets undergo changes.
Duan Zhaofang, director of the Department of Gas Market Research at the China National Petroleum Corp's Economics and Technology Research Institute, notes that bilateral trade ties have been a critical economic bridge between the world's two largest economies since 2016.
The expansion of US LNG export capabilities provides a solid resource foundation for deepening ties, with the country reinforcing its standing as the world's foremost natural gas producer. The US exported 110 million metric tons of LNG in 2025, accounting for approximately one-quarter of global LNG trade.