Despite international sanctions, Russia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to China are booming—and this is the part most people miss. In a move that’s raising eyebrows globally, Russian energy giant Novatek shipped a staggering 21 LNG cargoes from its Arctic LNG 2 facility to China last year, according to data from Kpler cited by Reuters. What’s even more surprising? Arctic LNG 2 operates under the shadow of EU and U.S. sanctions. But here’s where it gets controversial: China’s state-owned energy companies, CNPC and CNOOC, hold a 10% stake each in the project, signaling a deepening energy partnership between Moscow and Beijing.
Adding fuel to the fire, Gazprom’s Portovaya facility—also under Western sanctions—sent an additional LNG cargo to China. Together, these shipments highlight how Russia is finding creative ways to bypass sanctions and secure a growing market in China. But is this a sustainable strategy, or a risky gamble?
Russia’s LNG exports to China hit an all-time high in 2025, with September flows doubling year-over-year to 1.6 million tons. Novatek alone is estimated to have sold over 1 million tons of LNG from Arctic LNG 2 to China between June and November. Cargo-loading accelerated dramatically after August, with Vortexa reporting six LNG carriers in transit from the Gydan Peninsula in September.
Here’s the twist: this surge comes at a time when China’s overall demand for LNG has softened. For most of 2025, imports were weaker than in 2024, but they rebounded toward the end of the year. In November, LNG imports jumped 13.6% year-on-year to 6.94 million tons, and early December data suggests an even higher figure of 7.17 million tons. This uptick follows a 12-month decline driven by softer demand, increased domestic natural gas production, and higher pipeline imports—particularly from Russia via the Power of Siberia pipeline.
Despite these gains, China’s total LNG imports for 2025 are expected to fall short of 2024 levels, when imports soared due to efforts to fill gas storage facilities. So, what does this mean for global energy dynamics? As Russia leverages its LNG exports to strengthen ties with China, questions arise about the effectiveness of Western sanctions and the long-term implications for energy security. Is this a strategic alliance or a temporary workaround? And what does it mean for the rest of the world? Let’s discuss in the comments—your thoughts could spark the next big debate.
