Japan to Become Top LNG Importer in 2026 as China's Purchases Fall - News and Statistics
Published . Updated .
Japan is poised to overtake China as the world's biggest LNG importer in 2026, with ICIS and Kpler projecting Japanese imports slightly ahead of China's as high prices, ample Chinese storage and a Strait of Hormuz crisis cut Chinese purchases.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- UNG United States Natural Gas Fund-11.9% 30d
United States Natural Gas Fund: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “lng” (natural gas) in this story.
- XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR+6.9% 30d
Energy Select Sector SPDR: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “lng” (natural gas) in this story.
- USO United States Oil Fund+9.3% 30d
United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “lng” (oil) in this story.
- BWET Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF-3.3% 17d
Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF: it tracks tanker freight rates. Linked by “lng” (tanker shipping) in this story.
- FXI iShares China Large-Cap ETF-4.7% 30d
iShares China Large-Cap ETF holds stocks listed in China, which this story is about (“china”).
- EWJ iShares MSCI Japan ETF-0.2% 30d
iShares MSCI Japan ETF holds stocks listed in Japan, which this story is about (“japan”).
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings+10.9% 15d
ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “lng” (oil) in this story.
- CVX Chevron+10.5% 30d
Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “lng” (oil) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNGNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XLE | -0.51% | -2.20% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| USO | -1.54% | -1.29% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| BWETNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| FXINo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EWJNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XOM | -1.45% | -2.77% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| CVX | -1.54% | -2.69% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
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Japan to Become Top LNG Importer in 2026 as China's Purchases Fall - News and Statistics IndexBox
Source: IndexBox
What happened to United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) the last 10 times Strait of Hormuz was in the news
| Company | When | Average | Largest gain | Largest drop | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | the next day | +1.44% | +1.70% | -0.95% | 10 |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | three days later | +0.25% | +0.92% | +0.18% | 10 |
- Qatar locks in US LNG through 2054 as it looks beyond Hormuz
- Iran: 7 ships hit in the Strait of Hormuz
- Strait of Hormuz Oil Tankers Hit: New Risks for U.S. Farmers
- Oil shipping through Strait of Hormuz
- Oil prices increase as 7 tankers reported damaged in Hormuz
- Iran says 7 tankers were damaged in the Strait of Hormuz, and other Mideast news
Price since this story was published: United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG)
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVX | three days earlier | -2.69% | final price |
| CVX | five days earlier | -1.54% | final price |
| USO | three days earlier | -1.29% | final price |
| USO | five days earlier | -1.54% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | three days earlier | -2.20% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | five days earlier | -0.51% | final price |
| XOM | three days earlier | -2.77% | final price |
| XOM | five days earlier | -1.45% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 17 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) (jointly held), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Aug 2026. That is 61 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Chevron (CVX), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 17 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Chevron (CVX) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 38 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Chevron (CVX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 2 Sep 2026. That is 59 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Eqt (EQT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 27 Aug 2026. That is 65 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Eqt (EQT), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 17 Aug 2026. That is 75 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Eqt (EQT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 14 Aug 2026. That is 78 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Alan Armstrong sold Williams Companies (WMB) (jointly held), worth $250,001 - $500,000 on 8 Sep 2026. That is 53 days before publication. Filed 22 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Alan Armstrong bought Williams Companies (WMB) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 20 Aug 2026. That is 72 days before publication. Filed 17 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Alan Armstrong bought Williams Companies (WMB) (jointly held), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 19 Aug 2026. That is 73 days before publication. Filed 17 Sep 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
How busy Strait of Hormuz has been lately
Geopolitics Alpha has 144 stories about Strait of Hormuz from the past 7 days and 403 stories from the past 30. That is faster than its usual pace over the past month. “Japan to Become Top LNG Importer in 2026 as China's Purchases Fall - News and Statistics” is tagged to Strait of Hormuz.
Who gains and who pays if Strait of Hormuz stays in the story
Companies carried with this story
- UNG United States Natural Gas Fund
United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 31 Oct 2026 story “Japan to Become Top LNG Importer in 2026 as China's Purchases Fall - News and Statistics.” Reason on file: United States Natural Gas Fund: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “lng” (natural gas) in this story
- XLE Select Sector Spdr Tr
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 31 Oct 2026 story “Japan to Become Top LNG Importer in 2026 as China's Purchases Fall - News and Statistics.” Reason on file: Energy Select Sector SPDR: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “lng” (natural gas) in this story
- FXI Ishares China Large-Cap Etf
For “Japan to Become Top LNG Importer in 2026 as China's Purchases Fall - News and Statistics,” Ishares China Large-Cap Etf (FXI) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: iShares China Large-Cap ETF holds stocks listed in China, which this story is about (“china”)
- EWJ Ishares
In “Japan to Become Top LNG Importer in 2026 as China's Purchases Fall - News and Statistics,” Ishares (EWJ) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: iShares MSCI Japan ETF holds stocks listed in Japan, which this story is about (“japan”)
- LNG Cheniere Energy
In “Japan to Become Top LNG Importer in 2026 as China's Purchases Fall - News and Statistics,” Cheniere Energy (LNG) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Cheniere Energy (natural gas distribution): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “lng” (natural gas) in this story
- EQT Eqt
In “Japan to Become Top LNG Importer in 2026 as China's Purchases Fall - News and Statistics,” Eqt (EQT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Eqt (crude petroleum and natural gas): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “lng” (natural gas) in this story
- KMI Kinder Morgan
For “Japan to Become Top LNG Importer in 2026 as China's Purchases Fall - News and Statistics,” Kinder Morgan (KMI) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Kinder Morgan (natural gas transmission): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “lng” (natural gas) in this story
- WMB Williams Companies
In “Japan to Become Top LNG Importer in 2026 as China's Purchases Fall - News and Statistics,” Williams Companies (WMB) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: The Williams Companies (natural gas transmission): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “lng” (natural gas) in this story
How energy news reaches United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG)
United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) is the company in “Japan to Become Top LNG Importer in 2026 as China's Purchases Fall - News and Statistics,” the 31 Oct 2026 Strait of Hormuz story.
What ties United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) to the headline is this: United States Natural Gas Fund: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “lng” (natural gas) in this story
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) is here too. Its reason reads: Energy Select Sector SPDR: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “lng” (natural gas) in this story
Price levels for United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG)
FXI traded between 32.14 and 34.36 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 32.70. UNG traded between 9.11 and 11.43 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 9.19. XLE traded between 61.91 and 69.86 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 68.72.
The energy score for United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG)
46 out of 100
“Japan to Become Top LNG Importer in 2026 as China's Purchases Fall - News and Statistics” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies.