Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Imports โ - Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Imports refer to the total volume of liquefied natural gas received by a country from international suppliers during a given year. LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to approximately โ162ยฐC, converting it into a liquid state to facilitate efficient storage and long-distance transportation by specialized LNG carriers. The indicator is typically measured in billion cubic meters (bcm) after regasification or in equivalent LNG volumes and represents the amount of imported LNG entering a country's energy supply. LNG Imports are a key indicator of natural gas trade, energy security, import dependency, and the diversification of natural gas supply sources.
It serves as an important indicator of energy security, electricity generation requirements, fuel diversification, and the growing role of LNG within Taiwanโs energy system.
Taiwan imported 19.6 bcm of LNG in 2015, increasing to 20.4 bcm in 2016 and 22.7 bcm in 2017. Imports continued to rise to 22.9 bcm in 2018 before easing slightly to 22.8 bcm in 2019. LNG imports increased to 24.3 bcm in 2020 and further expanded to 26.7 bcm in 2021. Import volumes reached 27.5 bcm in 2022 before declining marginally to 27.4 bcm in 2023, remaining close to the review-period high.
Overall, the dataset indicates a strong upward trend in Taiwanโs LNG imports during the review period, with only minor fluctuations in selected years. Import growth was supported by rising electricity demand, greater reliance on natural gas-fired power generation, declining dependence on other fossil fuels, and continued expansion of LNG import infrastructure. The slight decline in 2023 reflected changing market conditions, optimization of fuel procurement strategies, and fluctuations in domestic energy demand while maintaining consistently high LNG import levels.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating Taiwanโs LNG import outlook, analyzing supply dynamics, and assessing future energy requirements. It supports market research, infrastructure planning, investment evaluation, and policy development while providing insights for researchers, industry stakeholders, analysts, and policymakers monitoring energy security, import trends, supply diversification, and the evolving role of LNG in Taiwanโs energy landscape.