India's Dec LNG Imports Growth Slows
After registering a sharp year on year growth in November, India’s LNG imports in December grew at a much slower pace, according to data published by the Indian oil ministry's Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell.
India imported pipeline equivalent to 2.03bn m³ of LNG last month, up 6.8% year on year. In November 2017, imports rose 27.8% year on year to 2.58bn m³. Cumulative LNG imports from April-December were 19.4bn m³, up 3.4% year on year.
India has four operating LNG terminals: Dahej, Hazira, Dhabol and Kochi. According to a document released by the oil ministry June 3, 2016, India’s LNG terminal capacity could more than double by 2022 as existing terminals expand and new ones are commissioned. Qatar is the largest supplier of LNG to India; however other suppliers including notably US ones have contracted to supply there.
December saw spot LNG prices for north Asian delivery of around $12/mn Btu, possibly deterring LNG purchasing.
Gross production of natural gas for the month of December 2017 was 2.75bn m3 which was higher by 0.5% compared with the corresponding month of the previous year.