TWO Chinese liquefied natural gas (LNG) importers have been told to avoid buying from Australia, as relations between the two continue to sour, reports Bloomberg.
The two smaller firms have received verbal orders from government officials to avoid purchasing additional LNG from Australia for delivery over the next year, according to people with knowledge of the directive, who asked not to be identified as the details aren't public.
Larger state-owned importers that carry out almost 90 per cent of purchases haven't received any guidance and plan to continue buying Australian LNG, separate traders said, signaling that the impact on imports may be limited.
A fax seeking comment from China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the nation's top economic planning agency, wasn't answered.
China's second-tier LNG buyers account for about 11 per cent of the Asian nation's total imports, according to BloombergNEF. Large state-owned firms - China National Offshore Oil Corp, China Petroleum & Chemical Corp and PetroChina Co - make up the rest.
SeaNews Turkey
The two smaller firms have received verbal orders from government officials to avoid purchasing additional LNG from Australia for delivery over the next year, according to people with knowledge of the directive, who asked not to be identified as the details aren't public.
Larger state-owned importers that carry out almost 90 per cent of purchases haven't received any guidance and plan to continue buying Australian LNG, separate traders said, signaling that the impact on imports may be limited.
A fax seeking comment from China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the nation's top economic planning agency, wasn't answered.
China's second-tier LNG buyers account for about 11 per cent of the Asian nation's total imports, according to BloombergNEF. Large state-owned firms - China National Offshore Oil Corp, China Petroleum & Chemical Corp and PetroChina Co - make up the rest.
SeaNews Turkey