South Korea LNG imports see Russian supply surge in September

South Korea's liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports reached 3.565 million tons in September 2026, representing a 9% decrease compared to the same month the previous year. Despite the annual decline, monthly imports rose by 14% compared to August 2026.

Russian LNG shipments to South Korea hit 326,000 tons in September, the highest monthly volume since November 2021. This increase in Russian supply occurred as South Korea adjusted to supply disruptions from Qatar, following force majeure declarations by QatarEnergy due to airstrikes on production facilities.

Australia remains South Korea's primary supplier, providing 1.33 million tons in September. Other significant suppliers included the United States (436,000 tons), Canada (426,000 tons), and Malaysia (414,000 tons). While monthly volumes fluctuated, total imports for the first nine months of 2026 fell by approximately 7% year-on-year to 32.982 million tons.