India’s October LNG imports edge up

Imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) into India rose in October when compared to the corresponding month in 2018. 

Data from the oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) shows that 2.69 billion cubic meters have been imported during the month under review. This is an 8.1 percent increase over the corresponding month the previous year.

The cumulative imports for the fiscal year (April-October) so far have reached 19.03 billion cubic meters, 8.4 percent above the volumes imported in the corresponding period last year.

The cost of LNG imports was at $10.3 billion for the year so far, with the volumes reaching $28.74 billion cubic meters. This is an increase of 27.1 percent in regards to the earnings and a 4.74 percent increase in terms of volume for the year so far.

For the month of October, the cost reached $0.8 billion, a 20 percent drop, compared to October 2018. For the fiscal year, the cost of imports reached $5.5 billion,12.7 percent below the costs reported in the corresponding period last year.

Ministry’s data shows that Petronet LNG’s Dahej terminal once again operated above full capacity utilization. Namely, the terminal operated at 109.3 percent capacity utilization during the fiscal year so far with the Hazira LNG terminal operating at 99.5 percent capacity utilization.

Kochi LNG terminal operated at 14.8 percent capacity while Dabhol and Ennore LNG terminals both operated at 4.8 percent utilization capacity.