China
's
liquefied natural gas imports touched a record in December and are expected to
keep growing as the country builds more regasification plants, CIMB analysts
say in a note.
China
's
December LNG imports rose 33% on year to 2.43 million tons and by more than 1
million tons from November. LNG imports in 2013 rose 23% to 18.04 million tons.
China
,
which is raising the percentage of LNG in its fuel mix, will have to exceed its
current growth rate if it is to meet its target of 40 million tons a year by
2015, CIMB says.
"Even the 40 million tons a year number may be
conservative if
China
completes the projects currently under construction or approved as these would
increase total capacity to 53.7 million tons a year," CIMB says.