China’s imports of LNG fell 11.5% year on year to 4.04 million mt in October, and were down 20.7% month on month, calculations based on latest data from the General Administration of Customs showed Tuesday.

Market sources attributed the decline to a domestic economic slowdown, a long shutdown at PetroChina’s Rudong LNG terminal, the relaxation of China’s coal-to-gas switching policies and stricter emission restrictions and lower industrial activity during the country’s 70th National Day holiday in early October.

The import cost for October LNG arrivals averaged…