adminChina imported record quantities of Russian liquefied natural gas and steelmaking coal in September, as total purchases of energy products topped US$50 billion since the invasion of Ukraine pushed Moscow to expand sales to its strategic ally.
Coking coal imports from Russia jumped to 2,5 million tons in September, from about 900 000 tonnes in the same month last year and 1,9 million tons in August, according to Chinese customs data. LNG sales rose by a third from a year ago to 819 000 tonnes, despite a 12 percent decline in China’s overall purchases of the super-chilled fuel. China hasn’t reported imports via pipelines, the main conduit for Russian gas, since the start of the year.
Crude oil imports from Russia were at 7,5 million tonnes last month, compared with 8,3 million tonnes in August and 6,1 million tonnes a year ago, with Saudi Arabia leapfrogging Russia as China’s top supplier.
Total purchases of Russian energy, including oil products, slowed to US$7,5 billion last month from a revised record of US$8,4 billion in August, although the figure is well-ahead of last year’s US$4,7 billion. It brings the total to more than US$51 billion in the seven months since the war in Ukraine began. Over the same period in 2021, China’s energy purchases from Russia were US$30 billion. — Bloomberg.
Online Reporter