Top 5 Chinese Natural Gas Companies (SHI, PTR)

China's five major natural gas companies include three state-owned energy giants, Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Co., Ltd. (NYSE: SHI), China National Petroleum Corporation and China National Offshore Oil Corporation. The other two companies are a pair of municipal companies headquartered in Beijing and Shanghai, respectively.

These companies have diverse operations in the energy and chemical industries, among other related and unrelated fields. This list includes gross revenues from 2017 consolidated financial statements. 

China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, also known as Sinopec, is China's largest energy company with more than $314 billion in consolidated revenue. Natural gas production reached just over 27 billion cubic meters last year. Sinopec was formed in 2000 out of the company formerly known as China Petrochemical Corporation. Sinopec is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.

In addition to natural gas operations, Sinopec produces crude oil, refined oil products and petrochemical products. It also engages in a variety of businesses in the oil services industry involving the extraction, storage, and transportation of natural gas and petroleum, and the design, building and installation of petroleum and petrochemical engineering projects.

China National Petroleum Corporation, or CNPC, has passed Sinopec in recent years in revenue generating, posting $340 billion in consolidated revenue last year. CNPC is far and away the nation's largest producer of natural gas, producing over 128 billion cubic meters in 2017. 

Most of CNPC's core business operations are organized under its subsidiary, PetroChina Co., Ltd. (NYSE: PTR). Apart from its natural gas operations, the company produces crude oil, refined oil products, and petrochemicals, and builds and operates pipelines and related infrastructure. It also operates gasoline service stations across the country. PetroChina is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.

China National Offshore Oil Corporation, or CNOOC, was founded in 1982 to develop China's offshore oil and gas fields, where it continues to focus most of its crude oil and gas exploration and production operations. It is one of China's largest energy companies with over $22 billion in oil and gas revenues. Natural gas production reached nearly 474 billion cubic feet in 2017.

CNOOC also produces refined oil products and petrochemicals, as well as operating businesses in engineering and technical services, financial services and power generation. CNOOC's primary operations are organized under its subsidiary company, CNOOC, Ltd. (NYSE: CEO). CNOOC Limited is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.

Beijing Enterprises Holdings Limited is a state-owned conglomerate organized under the Beijing municipal government. It engages in a wide variety of businesses, including natural gas and gas delivery operations, gas exploration and production operations, municipal water systems and the Chinese beer brand Yanjing.

Beijing Enterprises Holdings Limited has about $7.3 billion in consolidated revenue. It sold 8.25 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2017. The company operates its natural gas businesses under its subsidiaries: Beijing Gas, PetroChina Beijing Gas Pipeline Company and China Gas. Beijing Enterprises Holdings Limited is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Shenergy Group Company Limited is a state-owned company organized under the Shanghai municipal government. Shenergy operates businesses in natural gas exploration, production, storage and distribution. It also operates in the petroleum, power generation and real estate industries. The company posted consolidated revenue of nearly $5.6 billion and supplied nearly 8.1 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Shenergy Group Company Limited is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.