According to new data released by the Chinese General Administration of Customs. between January and July China increased its purchases of both Russian pipeline gas, and Russian liquified natural gas (LNG).

Supplies of pipeline gas delivered to China added up to $3.94 billion in monetary terms, doubling the figure set during the same period in 2022, and almost equaling the total of the entire last year, which was $3.98 billion. The agency’s data only looks at the cost of pipeline deliveries, and does not record volumes.

China purchased $555.57 million worth of Russian pipeline gas in July alone.

Most of China’s purchases of Russian gas are delivered through the Power of Siberia mega-pipeline. Russian energy major Gazprom reported earlier in the month that on July 31, it had set a new record for daily gas deliveries through the route. Since the beginning of the year, it had been steadily increasing gas flows, following a new agreement between Beijing and Moscow which called for increased supplies.

The two nations are also collaborating on the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project, which will create an additional route for Russian gas to be transported through Mongolia.

At the same time, Beijing increased purchases of Russian LNG significantly over the first seven months of the year, purchasing 4.46 million tons, worth $2.98 billion, marking a 60% increase over the same period last year. The deliveries meant that Moscow is now the third-largest LNG supplier to China during the reporting period, following Australia, which delivered 13.5 million tons, and Qatar, which supplied 9.51 million tons.