Venture Global Is in Talks to Sell US LNG to More Chinese Buyers

US liquefied natural gas exporter Venture Global Inc. is in talks to sell the fuel to additional Chinese buyers as the Iran war roils global shipments, spurring China to seek to diversify its sources of supply.

Venture Global has been holding early-stage discussions for long-term contracts with at least three Chinese LNG importers, including PetroChina Co., to supply fuel from the American company’s export facilities in Louisiana, according to people familiar with the matter. For PetroChina, the supply would total more than 1 million tons per year, said the people, who declined to be identified because the discussions were confidential.

Venture Global signed a rare deal with a Chinese company last month for supply starting from 2030.

A spokesperson for Venture Global declined to comment. PetroChina didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The discussions signal that Chinese companies are warming up to the prospect of procuring more US supply, even though Beijing imposed tariffs on American gas in 2025 in response President Donald Trump’s trade war. China, the world’s largest LNG importer, is heavily reliant on shipments of the heating and power-plant fuel from the Middle East. But the Iran war has called into question the security of that supply after attacks choked tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and forced Qatar to shut a major export facility.

Read more: Qatar Extends LNG Force Majeure as Hormuz Disruptions Drag On

The near-closure of the strait since late February has triggered a spike in spot LNG prices in Asia and Europe, prompting China to to scale back purchases. Nearly 30% of China’s LNG imports came from Qatar last year.