Oz LNG Exports Flat in Sept: EnergyQuest

Australian LNG exports in September were 6.2mn metric tons (91 cargoes), unchanged from the same month of last year, energy consultancy EnergyQuest said in a report published on October 15.

Exports in September were down 6% month on month, however, due to decreased production at the North West Shelf and Gorgon projects, EnergyQuest said. September shipments came to 75.5mn mt/year on an annualised basis, it added. In the nine months ending September 30, Australia exported 57.7mn mt of LNG, slightly more than the 57.4mn mt delivered in the same period last year.  

Australian West coast projects shipped 4.4mn mt in September, down from 4.88mn mt as a result of a major turnaround scheduled for the NWS Train 3. East coast projects shipped 1.8mn mt in September, up from 1.75mn mt in August.

Australian projects delivered 35 cargoes to China in September, after delivering 36 in August and 32 in September 2019. Exports to Japan stood at 39 cargoes, more than the 37 delivered in August but down on the 42 delivered in September 2019. Australia shipped 10 cargoes to South Korea in September, up from eight cargoes delivered a year earlier. Average LNG plant capacity utilisation was down in September at 86% versus 88.8% in August, EnergyQuest said.

EnergyQuest estimates that Australian LNG export revenues decreased in September to A$1.94bn (US1.37bn), down from A$2.12 billion in August and down by 52% compared with the September 2019 level.