China received dozens of sanctioned Russian gas shipments in 2025
Photo: China purchases Russian liquefied gas despite Western sanctions (Getty Images)
Western anti-Russian sanctions have not stopped China from purchasing Russian liquefied natural gas. Over the past year, Chinese companies received 22 LNG cargoes from two Russian projects that are under sanctions, according to Reuters.
The agency, citing data from analytics firms Kpler and LSEG, writes that one cargo of Russian LNG was shipped to China from Portovaya, while the rest were from the Arctic LNG 2 export project.
Both Russian projects are under sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe. At the same time, two Chinese state-owned companies hold 10% stakes each in Arctic LNG 2, which explains the active purchases of Russia’s sanctioned LNG.
All 22 gas cargoes were delivered to the Beihai LNG terminal, located on China’s southwestern coast. A tanker from Portovaya arrived in Beihai only once, on December 8.
Reuters reported that it was not possible to identify the owners and operators of the vessels that transported the sanctioned gas to China.
Russian gas exports to China
Earlier, media outlets reported that Russia has focused on increasing natural gas exports to China. Beijing purchases Russian gas at discounted prices.
Recently, a Russian liquefied natural gas export plant delivered its first cargo to China since US sanctions were imposed in January. This is another sign of strengthening energy cooperation between Beijing and Moscow.
RBC-Ukraine also reported that Russia’s LNG exports to China rose to a record level in November. This occurred as buyers dismissed the risk of Western sanctions in order to gain access to cheaper fuel.
In addition, Western sanctions have forced the aggressor country to postpone its plans to triple liquefied natural gas production for several years.
