Russian Gas Exports to China Rise 28% in Eight Months

Beijing: Chinese customs data shows that Russia's exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China rose by more than 28% during the first eight months of 2026. Export volumes reached 5.153 million tonnes valued at $2.669 billion-an increase of 28.31% in volume and 13.19% in value-compared to 4.016 million tonnes valued at $2.358 billion during the same period last year. According to Yemen News Agency, the Sputnik news agency reported on Sunday that its analysis of the data revealed the value of Russian LNG imports to China stood at $2.669 billion, up 13.19% from the corresponding period in 2025, when China paid $2.358 billion for 4.016 million tonnes of Russian LNG. In 2025, Russia exported a record 9.799 million tonnes of LNG to China, an increase of 18.3% compared to 2024 and a fifty-fold increase compared to 2015. Last May, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced that Russia and China had reached an agreement to accelerate the implementation of the "Power of Siberia 2" gas pipeline project . Speaking to Russia's Channel One regarding the "Power of Siberia 2" pipeline project, Novak said: "This issue was discussed today, and as you know, the President stated that agreements have been reached to accelerate the implementation of this project." Novak announced that an agreement had been reached to increase oil supplies to China via Kazakhstan from 10 million to 12.5 million tons annually, and that legal procedures are underway. Source: Yemen News Agency