HomeNewsChina's CNOOC agrees to LNG deal with UAE’s ADNOC amid tariff war with U.S.

China's CNOOC agrees to LNG deal with UAE’s ADNOC amid tariff war with U.S.

4/21/2025
  • CNOOC signs 5-yr LNG deal with ADNOC starting 2026
  • China avoids U.S. LNG due to tariff war, seeks new suppliers
  • ENN and Zhenhua Oil also secure LNG contracts with ADNOC
  • China imported no U.S. LNG in March, Kpler and LSEG data show

China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) has agreed a term deal to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Abu Dhabi National Oil Corp (ADNOC), the third supply contract the Middle Eastern energy exporter signed with Chinese buyers over the weekend, according to two Chinese trading sources and a state media report.

Chinese privately controlled ENN Natural Gas and state energy trader Zhenhua Oil have each signed a term contract to secure the super-chilled gas from ADNOC, Reuters has reported.

A tariff war with the United States has pushed Chinese buyers to resell U.S.-sourced cargoes and secure new supply deals as tit-for-tat tariffs drive up import costs. China imported no U.S. LNG during March, data from Kpler and LSEG show. The U.S. accounted for about 5% of China's LNG last year, according to Chinese customs data.

CNOOC's Gas and Power Group, charged with the state energy company's gas business, agreed a 5-yr deal starting 2026 for 500,000 metric tpy of LNG, said the industry source with knowledge of the deal.

The sources declined to be named as they’re not authorized to speak to the press.

CNOOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The three deals, led by ENN's 15-yr contract with annual volumes of 1 MMtpy starting in 2028, came as China, the world's largest LNG importer, has slapped steep tariffs on U.S. LNG amid a tit-for-tat trade war that has seen Chinese buyers avoid bringing U.S. cargoes home.

China Energy News on Saturday reported the deals, but provided little details.

ADNOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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