Indian liquefied natural gas imports showed a long-awaited surge of over 17 percent in the full fiscal year to the end of March as growing domestic gas output was offset by falling LNG prices and the nation’s increasing demand for gas marked by a new West Coast terminal set to start commercial operations soon
Indian liquefied natural gas imports increased by 15 percent for the first 10 months of the fiscal year so far and by 26 percent in January as an additional terminal was available and as prices declined by 27 percent since last year while demand continued to grow.
Indian liquefied natural gas imports surged for another month by just over 12 percent and by more than 14 percent for the fiscal year so far, helped by lower prices and higher demand and despite more competition from increased output from Bay of Bengal domestic gas resources.
Indian liquefied natural gas imports surged by more than 20 percent last month helped by lower prices and higher domestic gas demand while gas output offshore the Bay of Bengal also increased.
The decline in Indian liquefied natural gas imports slowed to 1.8 percent from the previous month’s 24 percent fall as cargoes for West Asia were expensive when competing with Europe and South America and as Indian domestic gas demand remained flat.
Indian liquefied natural gas imports dropped by 24 percent in May at prices lower than a year ago to reverse April’s brief rebound as domestic gas production was also flat while the start of the monsoon season in June has coincided with higher cargo prices.
Indian liquefied natural gas imports rebounded by 6.5 percent and offset a monthly decline in domestic gas production at a time when gas demand is rising and prices steadily falling from last year’s record levels.
Indian liquefied natural gas imports for the fiscal year dropped by more than 14 percent and below the 20 million tonnes mark and were also well down for the month of March following a brief resurgence in the previous month when shipments had risen.
TotalEnergies said it expected India’s newest LNG terminal, the onshore Dhamra facility located in the East Coast Indian state of Odisha, to start full commercial operations in May.
LNG importer India is expected to encourage increased domestic natural gas demand in the months ahead after the Government introduced a gas prices cap for two years to help boost the economy in sectors such as the fertilizer industry, refining and petrochemicals.