Russia Overtakes U.S., Becomes China's No. 2 LNG Supplier

Russia has become China's second-largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG), new data shows. This shift follows months of Russia offering its gas at steep discounts. Industry analysts state that Western sanctions have forced Moscow's hand. To keep its energy exports flowing, Russia has surrendered its pricing power. It now sells large volumes of LNG to China at prices set by Beijing. This arrangement moves sanctioned Russian cargoes into a crucial market. China, the world's top LNG importer, gains a major source of discounted fuel. The United States, previously China's number two supplier, has now fallen to third place. The change highlights how sanctions are reshaping global energy trade. Russia is increasingly dependent on China as a buyer, while China secures energy at favorable rates.