LNG exports from the Gladstone port in Australia’s Queensland dropped by about 9.3 percent in November due to lower volumes going to China, according to the monthly data by Gladstone Ports Corporation.
Last month, about 1.938 million tonnes of LNG or 30 cargoes left the three Gladstone terminals on Curtis Island.
This compares to 2.137 million tonnes or 33 cargoes in November 2021, the data shows.
Compared to the previous month when LNG exports reached some 1.860 million tonnes of LNG or 29 cargoes, November LNG exports rose by about 4.2 percent.
Most of these November LNG exports or 1.164 million tonnes landed in China, marking a drop of about 24.3 percent when compared to 1.539 million tonnes last year.
Besides China, volumes to South Korea dropped to 285,364 tonnes from 333,355 tonnes while volumes to Japan slightly decreased to 123,883 tonnes from 139,195 tonnes.
Malaysian volumes rose to 183,899 tonnes from 125,359 tonnes and Singapore also took 180,737 tonnes of Gladstone LNG exports in November.
Curtis Island is home to the Santos-operated GLNG plant, the ConocoPhillips-led APLNG terminal, and Shell’s QCLNG facility. These are the only LNG export facilities on Australia’s east coast.
Australia signed a new heads of agreement in September with these producers to prevent a gas supply shortfall and secure gas for the domestic market.
The new commitments from the three projects would lead to an extra 157 PJ for the domestic market in 2023.
