China’s LNG Imports Rebound in May as Buyers Prepare for Summer

China’s liquefied natural gas imports rebounded in May as the world’s largest buyer stepped up purchases ahead of peak summer demand, reversing a months-long decline following disruptions to Middle East supplies.

LNG deliveries to China rose to 4.9 million tons in May, marginally higher than a year ago, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s a stark reversal from the year-on-year contractions seen in previous months. April’s imports fell to the lowest level in eight years as higher prices triggered by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz weighed on demand.

The Iran war has choked shipments from the ...