China sees growing demand for LNG trucks

Almaty. October 9. Silkroadnews – China sees growing demand for LNG trucks, the South China Morning Post reported.
“Sales of large LNG trucks are expected to hit record levels in China this year as the government steps up an anti-pollution campaign that includes curbs on heavy-duty diesel vehicles,” the report said.
The LNG trucks, as noted, account for about 4% of more than 6 million heavy vehicles with 40-49 tonnes carrying capacity operating on the roads of China. The vast majority of 43 billion tonnes of cargo transported throughout China last year was delivered by truck.
It is reported that sales of “clean” heavy trucks operating jumped 540% to almost 39,000 in the first seven months of this year. Partly this was due to this year ban on the use of diesel trucks to transport coal in northern ports in provinces such as Hebei and Shandong, as well as in Tianjin city.
Besides, the shift to gas trucks contributes to growth of demand for liquefied natural gas and supports other government steps aimed at clearing air, especially in the north, which for most of the winter is enveloped in a dangerous smog.
Analysts say the gas boom is expected to benefit Chinese companies like Jereh Group and ENN Energy, which build gas filling stations, and Zhangjiagang CIMC Sanctum Cryogenic Equipment, which specializes in gas-fueled trucks.
According to the publication, next month Beijing will also impose restrictions on thousands of northern plants using diesel trucks, forcing many to use more rail and other types of transportation to consider the possibility of using gas-powered vehicles.
“Sales of new heavy-duty trucks, including diesel and LNG vehicles, jumped 75 per cent in the January-August period to 768,214, according to industry website Chinatruck.org.,” the report reads.
Last week, Sinotruk received new orders for 1,371 heavy-duty trucks, 900 of which operate on LNG. In the first half of this year, Sinotruk sold 5,200 LNG trucks, which is 650% more than in the same period in 2016.