Preliminary data shows that Japan's LNG imports increased by 49% from Russia in August, while US supplies decreased.

The preliminary data from Wednesday showed that Japan's imports of liquefied gas (LNG), from Russia, increased by 49% to 0.59 millions metric tons in August, while supplies from the U.S. decreased by 41% to a total of 0.38 million ton, compared to last year.

The data revealed that the total LNG imports by Japan, which is the second largest super-cooled gas purchaser in the world after China, were up 1% on an annual basis to 5.7 millions tons.

An industry source said that the increase in Russian volumes was not due to demand but rather to the timing of cargo arriving compared to last year.

The data shows that LNG imports to the Middle East (which includes Qatar and Oman) increased 11.4%, reaching 0.78 million tonnes, despite the lack of a breakdown by country.

"The volume of the annual contract through long-term agreements is fixed and, if equalized each year, the same amount is imported." The source stated that Japan, like many other countries, doesn't purchase Russian LNG at a moment's notice.

The Japanese industry ministry didn't immediately respond to a question for comment.

According to earlier customs data released, the July LNG supply from Russia was down 64% on the previous year, to only 0.09 million tonnes. This, according the same source, is due to maintenance work at the Sakhalin-2 LNG facility.

In total, Japan's LNG imports increased by 10.4% in the past, mainly due to higher volumes coming from Brunei. Malaysia, Oman, and Indonesia.

(source: Reuters)