Japanese March LNG imports dip

Imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) into Japan edged down during the month of March 2021.

Provisional data released by Japan’s Ministry of Finance shows that Japan imported a total 7.13 million tons of LNG during the month under review.

This is a 1.1 per cent dip compared to volumes imported in the corresponding month last year.

March LNG imports also dipped when compared to the month of February 2021.

The value of March LNG imports reached $2.74 billion, well below the value of LNG imported in the month prior.

Deliveries from Asian sources such as Malaysia and Indonesia slipped 3.3 per cent, to 1.68 million tons. At the same time, imports of LNG from the Middle Eastern sources jumped 33 per cent to 1.25 million tons.

Data shows that Japan’s imports of Russian LNG jumped up 22.6 per cent to 640,000 tons while imports of U.S. LNG shot up 106.8 per cent to 815,000 tons.

Imports of coal for power generation slipped 12.8 per cent to 8.53 million tons in March 2021.