Japan LNG buyers paid an average of $5.80/MMBtu for spot cargoes contracted in July, data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed.
METI did not publish an average contracted price transacted in June due to a lack of reported trades.
The ministry gathers data from utilities and other LNG buyers in the country to publish a simple average of contract prices. The delivery months of the cargoes are not disclosed.
Platts JKM averaged $5.63/MMBtu in July, reflecting spot deals concluded for August and September deliveries to Japan and South Korea.
METI also said Tuesday that the average price of cargoes delivered into Japan in July was $6/MMBtu, jumping 33.3% from $4.50/MMBtu in June.
Kyushu Electric was heard to have bought a cargo in July, via a Japanese trader, from Trafigura above $6/MMBtu in July, Platts reported earlier.
The cargo, a reload lifted from Singapore on July 17, was being shipped aboard the Corcovado and arrived at Kyushu Electric's Oita terminal on July 27, according to Platts shiptracking software cFlow.
The Platts JKM for July delivery averaged $4.833/MMBtu. The assessment period started on May 16 when the JKM stood at $4.475/MMBtu and ended on June 15 when it was assessed at $5.25/MMBtu.
