Global LNG imports 2023, by country

China imports more liquefied natural gas (LNG) than any other country in the world. In 2023, China purchased some 97.8 billion cubic meters worth of LNG. Natural gas and LNGLiquefied natural gas is natural gas that has been turned into liquid state so that it can be transported and stored more easily and cost-effectively. Natural gas is mainly comprised of methane with a little bit of ethane. As a non-toxic gas, it is also odorless and colorless. Natural gas is turned into a liquid by decreasing the temperature of the gas to -160 degrees Celsius (-260 degrees Fahrenheit). Global LNG tradeSince 1970, LNG trade has been increasing in almost every year. In 2022, the global trade volume of LNG was 542 billion cubic meters, an increase from the previous year. The United States has become the world's major exporter of LNG, at roughly 114.4 billion cubic meters sold and was closely followed by Qatar. Due to the remote location of both countries, i.e. their relative distance to large consumer markets, liquefying gas is their only means of selling natural gas on a large scale.

我国是全球液化天然气（LNG）进口量最大的国家。截至2023年，我国采购的液化天然气总量约为978亿立方米。液化天然气，顾名思义，是将天然气液化后便于运输和储存的形态。天然气主要由甲烷组成，辅以少量乙烷。作为一种无毒气体，天然气亦无色无味。通过降低气体温度至-160摄氏度（-260华氏度）的方式，天然气得以液化。自1970年以来，全球液化天然气贸易量几乎每年都在增长。2022年，全球液化天然气贸易量达到5420亿立方米，较上年有所上升。美国已成为全球最大的液化天然气出口国，出口量约为1144亿立方米，紧随其后的是卡塔尔。鉴于两国地理位置相对偏远，即它们与大型消费市场之间的相对距离较远，液化天然气成为它们大规模销售天然气的唯一途径。