*China imported 59.23mn tons of LNG for the first nine months of 2021, up 23% year-on-year and putting this year on track to smash the annual record of 67.3mn tons set last year. China is also well on track to overtake Japan as the world’s top LNG importer. Japan imported 56.8mn tons for 9M 2021, including 5.38mn tons for September, according to data intelligence firm Kpler.
*With China importing 6.75mn tons for September, it has been ahead of Japan for five of the past six months. China’s overall gas imports – including overland pipeline supplies – were 10.62mn tons (14.2bcm) for September, the third highest monthly figure ever for what is normally a quiet month (MEES, 15 October). With Korea (MEES, 15 October) and Taiwan (MEES, 15 October) also importing record volumes, spot LNG prices have soared to record levels of over $30/mn BTU (MEES, 22 October). (CONTINUED - 348 WORDS)
