Chinese Firms Profited From LNG Resales in 2025
Chinese companies resold up to 19 million tonnes of liquified natural gas last year, generating billions in profits.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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Chinese firms resold between 17 and 19 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas in 2025 as domestic demand softened. This shift toward portfolio trading allowed companies to capture price discrepancies across global markets.
Why it matters
Weakened domestic gas demand due to increased local production and Russian pipeline deliveries forced Chinese firms to redirect massive volumes of gas abroad. The strategy enabled companies to monetize excess contracted supplies rather than absorbing the surplus domestically.
Chinese firms generated $4.6 billion in profits from LNG resales between 2021 and mid-2026, including 17-19 million tonnes resold in 2025. By the first half of 2026, 47% of LNG cargoes handled by these companies were redirected to foreign customers.
The players
China
This nation serves as a primary hub for global LNG trading and portfolio management as domestic energy infrastructure evolves.
The details
Chinese companies operate as portfolio traders, often redirecting US-origin or other international LNG cargoes directly to buyers in Europe and Asia. This operational model avoids the need for the fuel to physically enter China, allowing firms to capture price spreads between international trading hubs.
Timeline
Between 2021 and 2023, China secured 60 million tonnes annually in new LNG agreements.
Chinese companies earned $4.6 billion in resale profits from 2021 through mid-2026.
In 2025, Chinese firms resold a total of 17 to 19 million tonnes of LNG.
During the first half of 2026, 47% of controlled LNG was diverted to international markets.
China's annual contracted LNG portfolio is expected to reach 114 million tonnes by 2028.
Market Landscape
The transition of Chinese firms into major global energy traders represents a structural shift in how nations manage contracted surplus. By acting as international portfolio traders, these companies are directly challenging the market share of traditional energy incumbents.
For energy consumers, this redirecting of global supply can influence international price stability by adding liquidity to foreign markets. Increased resale activity means the global market is less vulnerable to regional supply shocks than it would be under rigid import models.
The takeaway
The rise of China as a flexible LNG trader highlights how national energy strategies are shifting toward global market arbitrage to handle domestic supply surpluses. Maintaining a diverse energy portfolio allows these companies to capitalize on price volatility even when local demand is cooling.
Further reading
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Does the rise of large global energy resellers like China suggest energy markets are becoming unpredictable?
