Economic data showed a contraction of gas consumption in China during last January, to record the first annual contraction in two years.

According to the Chongqing Oil and Gas Exchange, a Chinese government-backed energy trading platform, China consumed 31.6 billion cubic meters last month, down 1% year-on-year. < / p>

The decline was due to a 14% decrease in demand from industrial consumers and 10% of electricity facilities, which negated the impact of an increase from urban gas consumers and chemical producers.

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Several analysts have cut their forecasts for gas demand in China, its largest importer in the world, as the outbreak of coronavirus in the country is expected to diminish the appetites of factories, companies and the sector. Fuel transportation over the next few months.

The total supply of natural gas, excluding stored gas, was 29 billion cubic meters, and domestic gas production increased by one percent from a year ago, while its imports decreased 3.2%, According to the Zhongqing Stock Exchange.

The stock exchange also expects a supply glut in the natural gas market in February and March, with average daily consumption decreasing by 6.2% and 11.2%, respectively, compared to a year ago. p>

The release of the official data for China's gas imports has been postponed for January to next March.