Aerial view of the area around Ulsan Port. Photo courtesy of Ulsan City
ULSAN — Liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports through Ulsan Port have risen sharply over the past three years as local industries make greater use of the fuel.
Imports have grown explosively in recent years, according to Ulsan Customs on the 18th. There were no imports at all through 2023, but after a dedicated LNG terminal at Ulsan Port began full operation in November 2024, the port handled 420,000 tons that year.
The upward trend accelerated the following year. Imports reached 1.53 million tons in 2025, up 264%, or 1.11 million tons, from a year earlier. Through the first seven months of 2026, 1.1 million tons have already been imported, tracing a solid growth curve.
The LNG brought in through the port is establishing itself as a key resource across Ulsan’s industrial sector. Local power producers and refining and smelting companies are actively using LNG as fuel for combined-cycle power plants, while the oil refining industry uses it as an essential raw material for hydrogen production. Though still at an early stage, its use is also expanding as fuel for eco-friendly ships. Its range of use is broadening beyond simple industrial energy into a multipurpose resource.
Ulsan Customs analyzed this trend as a positive sign for the region’s push into the hydrogen economy. LNG has the advantage that hydrogen can be produced using existing natural gas infrastructure. As the region eventually transitions to a fully carbon-free energy era based on ammonia and other sources, LNG is expected to play a significant role as a transitional energy source underpinning the local hydrogen economy.
An official at Ulsan Customs said the agency will continue to closely analyze energy import trends at Ulsan Port to identify shifts in local industrial supply and demand in a timely manner. The official added that the agency will support local companies in responding smoothly to the rapidly changing restructuring of energy supply chains.