LNG

Japanese liquefied natural gas imports rebounded from 2020 declines as they rose last month, though the overall trend was down as half-year imports dropped 5.7 percent, with only US shipments increasing in the first six months.

Japanese spot liquefied natural gas cargoes were contracted for Japan last month at a cost of $3.90 per million British thermal units less than in April 2018 and down $1.20 per MMBtu versus March 2019.

Japanese spot LNG cargo prices last month on a contracted basis averaged $10.60 per million British thermal units, up 55 percent or $3.70 per MMBtu from September 2017, as the nation’s year-on-year fuel costs continued to rise on the higher oil price.