India's March LNG import flat YoY

India’s March LNG import flat YoY

India’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports remained fairly flat during the month of March 2021.

Courtesy of Petronet LNG
India's March LNG import flat YoY
Courtesy of Petronet LNG

Data from the oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell monthly report shows that March LNG imports reached 2.97 billion cubic meters. This was only 0.1 per cent up on the corresponding month in 2020.

However, the increase was more pronounced when compared to the month of February 2021.

For the fiscal year from April 2020 to March 2021, cumulative imports have reached 32.85 billion cubic meters. This is a 3 per cent slip when compared to the corresponding period last year.

The price of LNG imports edged up from $07 billion in 2020 to $0.8 billion during the month under review.

The value of cumulative imports during the fiscal year from April to March slipped significantly from $9.5 billion in the corresponding period last year to $7.4 billion currently.

India currently imports chilled fuel via six LNG import terminals with a combined capacity of 42.5 million tonnes.

According to PPAC, utilization of these facilities remained relatively flat. Petronet LNG’s Dahej LNG terminal operated at 94 per cent capacity.

PPAC data shows that Shell’s 5 mtpa Hazira LNG terminal operated at 79 per cent capacity while the Dabhol LNG facility operated at 70.8 per cent.

Kochi LNG facility was at 17.3 per cent, Indian Oil’s Ennore facility operated at 12 per cent while GSPC’s Mundra plant operated at 35.6 per cent capacity.

Looking at India’s domestic natural gas production for the month of March, it jumped 11.1 per cent last month to 2.68 billion cubic meters.