Oz Aug East Coast LNG Exports Highest Since Jan

LNG exports from the Port of Gladstone in Queensland, Australia, were at the highest monthly total since January in August despite some maintenance activity at the Australia Pacific LNG facility, data from the Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) showed September 6.

There was 1.76 million metric tonnes of the fuel exported from the port, which ships all of Australia’s east coast’s LNG, in August, up 8% year on year and 7% month on month, GPC said.

LNG is exported from Gladstone from the ConocoPhillips-Origin Energy Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) terminal, Shell’s Queensland Curtis LNG and the Santos-led Gladstone LNG project.

APLNG had scheduled maintenance work limiting half of one train’s capacity from August 21-26 and is scheduled for more from September 11-17, it told the Australian Energy Market Operator earlier in the year.

APLNG is a 9mn mt/year capacity terminal. ConocoPhillips and Origin Energy each hold 37.5% interests and Sinopec has a 25% stake.

Gladstone LNG exports to China were also the strongest since January, with 1.26mn mt shipped in August, up 13% year on year and 3% month on month.

Volumes to South Korea during the month were 369,947 mt, up 219% year on year and 107% month on month. It was the highest monthly total since March.

Japan was shipped 66,518 mt, down 80% year on year and 45% month on month, and Malaysia was sent 62,466 mt, down 1% both on year and on month.