據彭博社1月19日消息：日本液化天然氣庫存降至7個月低點，原因是天氣變冷導致需求增加，而歐洲囤積了這種超冷燃料的出貨量。

液化天然氣的運輸，尤其是從美國項目出口的液化天然氣，正從亞洲轉向歐洲，以利用更具吸引力的價格。這導致亞洲進口商的供應減少，而現有的貨物正以極高的價格出售。

日本經濟產業省周三公布的數據顯示，1月16日，電力供應較前一周下降6.9%，至200萬噸，為5月底以來的最低水平。

過去幾周的寒冷降雪天氣增加了日本各地的電力需求，幫助消耗了液化天然氣庫存。在過去四年中，日本的液化天然氣庫存在去年12月底至今年1月期間平均下降了2%。今年的儲存量已經比去年12月底下降了14%。

與此同時，日本公用事業公司一直在觀望液化天然氣現貨市場，因為歐洲一直在以高于該地區的價格吸引出貨量。根據彭博社匯編的船舶跟蹤數據，截至1月17日的一個月內，日本液化天然氣交付量比去年減少了10%。

盡管如此，庫存仍遠高于167萬噸的四年季節性平均水平。雖然日本可能能夠避免天然氣短缺，尤其是在冬季即將結束之際，但持續的寒冷天氣仍可能迫使公用事業公司重返液化天然氣現貨市場，或減少燃氣發電廠的產量。

馮娟 摘譯自 彭博社

原文如下

Japan’s LNG Inventories Slump to 7-Month Low on Frigid Weather

Japan’s liquefied natural gas inventories slumped to a seven-month low as colder weather increased demand and Europe hoarded shipments of the super-chilled fuel.

LNG shipments -- particularly those exported from U.S. projects -- are rerouting from Asia to Europe to take advantage of more attractive prices. That’s leaving less supply for Asian importers, and the cargoes that are available are being sold at sky-high rates.

Supply held by power utilities fell 6.9% from the previous week to 2 million tons on Jan. 16, the lowest since the end of May, according to data from Japan’s trade ministry released on Wednesday.

Bouts of cold, snowy weather over the past few weeks have increased power demand across Japan, helping to drain LNG inventories. In the last four years, Japan’s LNG inventories have dropped an average of 2% between the end of December and January. This year’s storage is already down 14% from the end of December.

At the same time, Japan’s utilities have been sitting on the sidelines of the LNG spot market as Europe has been outbidding the region to attract shipments. Japan has received 10% fewer LNG deliveries in the one-month period through Jan. 17 compared to last year, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg

Still, inventories are well above the four-year seasonal average of 1.67 million tons. While Japan will likely be able to avoid a natural gas shortage, especially with the end of winter within sight, a sustained blast of frigid weather may still force utilities to return to the LNG spot market or reduce output from gas-fired power plants.