Increase in LPG Imports from the United States due to the Shale Revolution: Overall imports decrease below one million tonnes a month

摘要

Imports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are decreasing (Fig. 1). After rising to 13.33 million tonnes in FY2012, the volume of LPG imports dropped to 11.61 Mt in FY2013, falling below the 1 Mt/month line. This is the lowest level in almost 30 years, even lower, albeit slightly, than FY2009 affected by the Lehman shock. This is not because imported LPG is being pushed out by increased production of LPG by domestic refineries. In fact, the output of refineries is levelling off in the mid-term due to the gradual decline in crude oil throughput.