Russia Boosts LPG Exports to China Amid Decline in U.S. Supplies

Supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Russia to China rose sharply in the second quarter of 2025 — up 1.5 times from the previous quarter and 2.2 times year-on-year, reaching 227,000 tons, Orda.kz reports, citing Kommersant.

Gazprombank analysts link the growth to China’s trade war with the United States, which has reduced American LPG imports. U.S. deliveries fell 26% quarter-on-quarter to about 3 million tons, prompting Chinese petrochemical plants to switch to alternative suppliers.

Middle Eastern exports grew by 30% in the same period, while Russian producers also benefited from redirecting flows after losing access to European markets. Experts note, however, that limited rail capacity and the lack of a specialized Far Eastern terminal still constrain further growth.