Australian LNG exports up 18% in June: Indian, China markets strong

PERTH - Combined exports from Australia’s three LNG hubs surged 18.5% in June, with total output climbing to 3.6 million tonnes (Mt) – a surge of 560,000t over the May total with strong contributions from North West Shelf (NWS) and Pluto plants in Western Australia and  the QCLNG project at Gladstone on the Queensland coast.

Despite low oil and LNG prices, Australia’s six LNG projects all maintained high levels of production in June, in many cases above nameplate capacity, according to the June Monthly LNG Report by independent energy analyst, EnergyQuest
The report says the Indian and Chinese LNG markets are growing, but there is continuing weakness in Japan and Korea.
The latest market data available (for May) shows total Indian LNG imports (from all countries) up by 0.45 Mt in May, 40% higher than May 2015, reflecting strong growth in India’s LNG sector seen all year (+2.2 Mt, +41% in the first five months of 2016).
Chinese LNG imports grew by 27% in May compared with a year earlier. But total Japanese and Korean LNG imports continue to fall, down 4.0% and 5.8% respectively in May 2016 compared with May 2015. www.energyquest.com.au  (ATI).