beijing u.s. gas exporters traders aim grab big chunk lucrative grow business export gas china world third-largest buyer accompany commerce secretary wilbur ross china next month talk may hot air u.s. suppliers compete bargain price agree long-term deal rival australia qatar malaysia accord list see reuters 10 29 company travel ross u.s president donald trump involve energy gas l4n1n228c among cheniere energy inc operate u.s. lng export terminal freepoint commodities found run david messer lead power utility sempra vaunt commodities division l4n1n228c presence underscore u.s. ambition sell excess gas abroad u.s. shale revolution threaten upset global lng market china appetite soar embark audacious bid heat millions home across north gas first time winter switch tens thousands industrial boilers clean fuel part push clear sky without sufficient domestic output meet grow demand import surge year offer huge potential major export nations unite state mission talk chinese company get something sign say frederick jones founder chief executive delfin midstream llc build float lng vessels would sit 50 miles coast louisiana head beijing trip schedule begin nov. chief financial officer matthew weil delfin customers yet new terminal hop showcase company state-owned large private company delfin talk chinese buyers potential offtake deal well fund finance accord person knowledge exchange chinese oil trade executive involve discussions ahead trip expect delegation yield several short-term supply deal graphic 'lng market overview click reut.rs/2z21ldq may unite state china agree boost trade 100-day trade talk aim reduce u.s. trade deficit china reach 347 billion last year among agreements one allow chinese buyers purchase long-term supply unite state directly current long-term contract qatar australia sign 2009 2013 expire around 2030/40 china need top import meet grow demand uncertain global lng market bottom chinese buyers cautiously avoid line new long-term contract rather look sign five-year even shorter-term deal base spot price source say u.s. import lng explode year graphic 'china lng import origin click reut.rs/2yo1bvm first nine months year shipments hit almost 600,000 tonnes rank unite state sixth large lng importer leap-frogging nigeria peru average price china pay u.s. lng 7.62 per million british thermal units mmbtu past 12 months deliver basis compare 6.54 australia accord reuters calculations base monthly customs data 2016 china import 200,000 tonnes lng 62,601 tonnes 2015. china expect gas demand rise 320 360 billion cubic metres per year 2020. increase equivalent annual consumption japan asia second-largest gas consumer china graphic 'china natural gas import click reut.rs/2xdm2ca hot air u.s. gas exporters rush sell lng china