Japan’s LNG imports rise

摘要

Japan imported 8.1mn t of LNG in December,up by 4.9pc on the same month a year earlier and higher by 12pc on November.Imports in full-year 2013 were 87.49mn t,just 0.4pc higher than 87.13mn t in 2012. Demand increased in December as utility Tokyo Electric Power(Tepco)started four new gas-fired units in December and January,boosting LNG demand.Japan bought 2.3mn t of LNG from the Middle East in December,up by 7pc on a year earlier.Imports from Asia-Pacific totalled 2.4mn t,up by 1.7pc from a year earlier.Deliveries from other regions rose by 8.2pc to 2.6mn t.But supply from Russia fell by 1.3pc to 780,000t.Japan imported no LNG from the EU in the month.