Asia is expected to import 20.09 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in September, the weakest September total in eight years, as elevated spot prices deter buyers in China and South Asia. The estimate from commodity analysts Kpler compares with 22.27 million tons a year earlier and 22.25 million tons in August. Europe is absorbing some of the displaced cargoes as it prepares for winter, with European Union gas inventories around 68% full, about 16 percentage points below the five-year average. European LNG imports are estimated at 7.98 million tons in September, rising to 10.53 million in October and 10.62 million in November. The market has tightened after Qatar’s LNG exports were disrupted by the war between the United States and Iran and related shipping conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. North Asian spot LNG reached $26.00 per million British thermal units in the week ended September 11, up 150% from $10.40 in the week to February 27. China, India and Pakistan are reducing or limiting imports as prices pressure demand, echoing the market dynamics seen after the loss of Russian pipeline gas to Europe in 2022. Europe’s LNG imports are set to reach another record in 2026, according to Kpler’s assessment.