Investing.com — Venture Global Inc (NYSE:VG) is in preliminary discussions to supply liquefied natural gas to additional Chinese buyers, according to reporting from Bloomberg citing people familiar with the matter, as geopolitical conflict in the Middle East disrupts global energy trade and pushes top importers toward alternative supply sources. The early-stage talks involve long-term contracts with at least three Chinese importers, including state-owned PetroChina Co., which is eyeing annual deliveries exceeding 1 million tons from Venture Global’s Louisiana export facilities.
The discussions build on a rare long-term supply agreement signed last month for deliveries beginning in 2030, signaling a potential thaw in Chinese demand for American energy despite ongoing trade friction. While Beijing levied tariffs on U.S. natural gas in 2025 during renewed trade tensions under President Donald Trump, the shifting security environment in energy markets appears to be prompting Chinese buyers to re-evaluate potential supply risks.
For China, the world’s largest LNG importer, the push for diversification follows significant disruptions to Middle Eastern shipments stemming from the war in Iran. The conflict has severely constrained tanker traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and forced Qatar, which accounted for nearly 30% of Chinese LNG imports last year, to shut down a key export facility.
The near-closure of the strait since late February has triggered a sharp surge in spot LNG prices across Asia and Europe, forcing Chinese buyers to scale back spot market purchases and prioritize long-term supply stability. Against that backdrop, long-term contracting with U.S. Gulf Coast exporters offers Chinese state energy giants a mechanism to lock in voluminous, non-Strait-dependent supply to mitigate future geopolitical shocks.
Investors appeared to welcome the potential expansion of Venture Global’s customer portfolio amid the volatile market environment. Shares of the Arlington, Virginia-based exporter rose around 2% in Tuesday trading following news of the negotiations.
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