Japan buys more LNG from the Middle East in September

Japan's LNG imports increased by 6.6pc on the year to 6.5mn t in September, the highest level since March this year, supported by a rise in supplies from the Middle East.

Japanese buyers preferred to buy cargoes from the Middle East last month, taking a total of 945,092t. This contrasted with a 1pc year-on-year drop in imports from Asia-Pacific countries to 4.2mn t in September, according to the latest data from Japan's finance ministry.

Japan received 56,282t from the UAE in September compared with zero a year earlier. Deliveries from Oman rose by 3.4pc from a year earlier to 261,419 last month. Only deliveries from Qatar fell among the Middle East countries, dropping by 1pc on the year to 627,391t.

Deliveries from Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei increased on the year by 14.6pc to 714,236t, by 59.9pc to 357,470t and by 22.9pc to 327,196t, respectively, in September. But supplies from Australia declined by 11pc on the year to 2.6mn t last month, while imports from Papua New Guinea fell by 3.3pc from a year earlier to 210,887t.

Firm supplies from the US and Russia also contributed to the overall rise in Japan's September imports. Imports from the US increased by 21.5pc on the year to 419,129t, while Russian supplies rose by 11.8pc from a year earlier to 652,180t last month.

Japan also purchased LNG from Nigeria and Peru in September. Deliveries from Nigeria totalled 241,522t compared with 59,332t in September 2019. But supplies from Peru declined by 16.6pc on the year 59,844t last month.

By Reina Maeda