Turkmenistan exported $7.32 billion worth of pipeline gas to China in January-September 2022, an increase of 51 percent compared to the same period last year, Russia’s TASS news agency reported on Monday with reference to the General Administration of Customs of China.
Turkmenistan thus remains the main exporter of pipeline gas to China. The second major pipeline gas supplier of China is Russia, with its deliveries totaling $2.8 billion, an increase of 2.83 times compared to the same period in 2021.
The other major suppliers of pipeline gas to China are Myanmar ($980 million), Kazakhstan ($937 million), and Uzbekistan ($768 million).
In August alone, China imported 2.3 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Turkmen natural gas.
Turkmenistan currently exports its natural gas to China via three pipelines passing along the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China route. The pipeline system is capable of transporting 55 bcm of gas a year, with majority of the supplies provided by Turkmenistan and the rest provided by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The agreement on the construction of the fourth branch of a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to China was agreed in February. It’s commissioning is expected to allow Turkmenistan to increase its annual gas deliveries to China by up to 65 bcm.
Turkmenistan exported around 34 bcm of natural gas to China last year.