Japanese LNG imports increase again even at higher prices while more competition expected soon from nuclear
Japanese liquefied natural gas imports increased again in May even at higher prices while thermal coal deliveries dropped and nuclear plant re-starts plans continued to advance.
Japanese LNG imports decline on warmer weather as coal imports stay high and more nuclear re-starts planned
Japanese liquefied natural gas imports dropped by 10.5 percent amid milder winter weather and prices at almost 30 percent lower levels while thermal coal imports were steady and plans were revealed for another nuclear restart.
Japanese LNG imports increase as storage build-up begins amid contract activities for more supplies
Japanese liquefied natural gas imports increased last month as thermal coal imports dropped and energy players in Japan signed more LNG supply contracts amid stricter energy security polices to confront geopolitical uncertainties.
Kansei Electric Power wins nuclear case in Japanese court that could affect future LNG demand
Kansei Electric Power (Kepco), a leading Japanese LNG importer, has won a court victory to keep open a nuclear plant that some local residents wanted to shut down because of its age in a ruling that may impact future LNG demand in Japan.
Japanese LNG imports set for annual drop to around 73MT as monthly cargo deliveries again decline
Japanese liquefied natural gas imports fell again in November as Asian and Middle East deliveries dropped and were offset by more cargoes from Australia as the nation headed for an annual fall in LNG imports to under 73 million tonnes as overall power use declined in the economic slowdown.
Japanese LNG imports to drop further if nation keeps policy target of 30 nuclear plant restarts
Japan has been returning to nuclear power and now has nine units operating with a total electricity generation capacity of 8.7 gigawatts and a US report has forecast that imported LNG supplies for Japanese gas-fired power plants would likely decline in 2019.
Japanese LNG imports drop as costs increase and coal is preferred for power generation
Japanese liquefied natural gas imports dropped by 8.7 percent in January as more coal and nuclear power generation offset the need for LNG cargoes, though the cost of the LNG rose by more than 15 percent compared with a year ago.
Shipments to Japan in January amounted to 7.54 million tonnes compared with 8.26MT in January 2018.
The December 2018 imports had amounted to 7.25MT compared with 7.95MT in December 2017.
Nine of Japan's nuclear power plants, which numbered 54 on line before the Fukushima disaster in 2011, have re-started to reduce LNG needs.
A rise in January thermal coal imports also helped offset the drop in LNG cargoes. Coal shipments rose 7 percent in January compared with the year-ago period to 10.67MT.
The cost of the January 2019 cargoes came in at 479.22 billion yen ($4.32Bln), a rise of 15.3 percent from the 416.29Bln yen ($3.75Bln) the cargoes cost in the same month a year ago.
The Ministry of Finance data for January showed that Asian LNG shipments from nations such as Malaysia and Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Brunei dropped 25.8 percent to 1.91MT.
Imports from the Middle East region fell 23.7 percent year-on-year, with shipments from countries like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman totalling 1.48MT in January 2019.
US shipments of LNG amounted to 267,000 tonnes, a rise of 36 percent on the same month last year.
Japan imported 2.49MT of US cargoes in 2018 and that figure will rise in 2019 as the nation will be importing more cargoes.
These will come from the Cheniere Energy-owned Sabine Pass plant in Louisiana and the Cove Point plant in Maryland operated by Dominion Energy, as well as the newest Cameron LNG plant in Louisiana set to start operations under Sempra Energy and with Japanese shareholders.
Monthly Russian shipments from the Sakhalin Island plant in the Far East declined 7.6 percent in January to 617,000 tonnes.
The balance of imports from other countries amounted to 3.26MT, with most volumes coming from Australia, backed by shipments from African nations and the spot market.
Japanese LNG imports had declined by 0.9 percent in 2018. The 2018 imports amounted to 82.85MT versus 83.63MT received in 2017.
Japan’s 2018 import bill was 20.8 percent higher than in 2017 at 4,730Bln yen ($43.14Bln), according to the Finance Ministry. Japan had paid 19.3 percent more in 2017 with an LNG bill of 3,915Bln yen ($35.58Bln).
Japanese LNG imports declined in 2018 amid a 20 percent jump in costs and nuclear re-starts
Japanese liquefied natural gas imports declined by 0.9 percent in 2018 as coal and nuclear provided more competition for power generation, though the costs of the LNG shipments soared by more than 20 percent and a fall in Asian shipments was partially offset by a rise in Middle East cargoes.
