China could receive its first direct shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States in over a year and a half as early as June, signaling a potential partial easing of trade tensions between the two countries.
Last week, three LNG tankers departed export terminals in Louisiana, heading toward China. The vessels are expected to arrive at the port of Tianjin between June 15 and 20.
Despite existing long-term contracts between Chinese buyers and U.S. LNG producers, direct deliveries have effectively stopped over the past year. Amid ongoing tariff disputes between Beijing and Washington, contracted volumes were redirected and resold to other markets.
According to EBW Analytics, China has increased its reliance on pipeline gas imports from Russia and Central Asian countries under these conditions. In 2025, Russia supplied around 38.8 billion cubic meters of gas to China via the “Power of Siberia” pipeline.
Experts from Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy note that Beijing views the United States as a less reliable energy partner and prefers to diversify its supply sources.
The potential resumption of U.S. LNG shipments coincides with a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, scheduled for May 14–15 in Beijing. The U.S. president has already departed for China.
Analysts say the outcome of the talks could influence the future of energy cooperation between the world’s two largest economies.
