Japan's LNG imports hit 5-year high as cold bites

Singapore

JAPANESE imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) hit their highest in at least five years in January, with shipments expected to continue at a brisk pace this month as freezing weather keeps its grip on the world's top buyer of the fuel.

Japan's imports of LNG rose to nearly 8.7 million tonnes last month, up 8 per cent from December and the largest volume since at least January 2013, according to ship-tracking data on Thomson Reuters Eikon that stretches back five years.