China, India LNG Imports Fall Most Globally in 2025: IGU

China and India recorded the largest declines in liquefied natural gas imports of any country in 2025, with combined volumes dropping 10.4 million tonnes, according to the International Gas Union's annual World LNG Report.

China, still the world's biggest LNG buyer, cut purchases by 8.9 million tonnes to 69.77 million tonnes. The IGU attributed the drop to mild seasonal demand early in the year, rising domestic gas production and higher pipeline supply from Russia via the Power of Siberia pipeline. India's imports fell 1.5 million tonnes to 24.60 million tonnes, giving the country a 5.63% share of the global market.

The declines pulled down overall Asian imports by 9.2 million tonnes to 108.7 million tonnes. Thailand and Pakistan also imported less. Asia Pacific remained the largest importing region at 168.7 million tonnes, up 3.6 million tonnes from 2024, the report showed.

India expanded its regasification capacity by 7.1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) in 2025. That included the new Chhara LNG terminal and an expansion at Dabhol LNG. The additions pushed India past Spain into fourth place globally for regasification capacity, at 52.5 mtpa across eight terminals. India's largest terminal, Dahej LNG, has 17.5 mtpa of capacity and ranks sixth in the world.