LNG stocks at Japan's main power utilities increased in the week to 12 April, and gas-fired generation edged higher given lower output from base-load nuclear and coal-fired fleets.
The utilities held 2.29mn t of LNG inventories on 12 April, up by 3.2pc from the previous week's revised 2.22mn t, according to a weekly survey by Japan's trade and industry ministry Meti. This was also higher by 7.5pc compared with 2.13mn t on 13 April 2025 and up by 8pc against the end-April average of 2.12mn t over 2021-25.
Japan's gas-fired generation climbed to around 4.1TWh over 6-12 April, up by 3.1pc from a week earlier, according to the country's power agency the Organisation for Cross-regional Co-ordination of Transmission Operators (Occto). The increase is estimated to have raised LNG consumption by about 16,080t, assuming an average gas-fired generation efficiency of 50pc.
Higher gas-fired output came despite softer electricity demand given a seasonal rise in temperatures. Utilities were encouraged to increase gas-fired utilisation, as coal-fired generation fell by 16pc from a week earlier to 3.4TWh during 6-12 April, after several coal-fired units were shut for regular maintenance. Oil-fired output also dropped by 28pc to 35.4GWh.
Power supply from nuclear reactors totalled 1.7TWh during the week to 12 April, down by 4.2pc from a week earlier. Utility Kansai Electric Power shut the 870MW Takahama No.3 reactor on 7 April for regular turnaround, which prompted the utility to boost replacement gas-fired output. Overall gas-fired output in the Kansai area rose by 49pc on the week to 581GWh over 6-12 April.
The increase in LNG inventories despite higher gas-fired output indicates that utilities received more LNG than they consumed last week. Japan imported 1.16mn t of LNG over 6-12 April, including volumes for city gas production, up from 1.13mn t a week earlier, data from oil analytics firm Vortexa show.
Japan's power demand averaged 86GW during 6-12 April, down by 0.7pc from a week earlier, Occto data show.
