Singapore — Japan's LPG stocks at the end of June fell 7.1% month on month to 1.368 million mt, as imports rose, data released Monday by the Japan LP Gas Association showed.
Propane stocks fell 10.1% month on month to 871,000 mt, while butane stocks shed 1.2% to 497,000 mt.
Japan's import terminal running stocks -- supplies that refiners or importers can draw on -- jumped 58.5% month on month to 233,000 mt in June, the data showed. These stocks are not included in Japan's total stocks figure quoted by the Japan LP Gas Association.
Total imports rose 17.7% month on month to 804,000 mt, with propane rising by 17.3% to 690,000 mt, and butane increased by 20% to 114,000 mt, the data showed.
Total demand in June declined almost 6% month on month to 910,000 mt, with propane down 9% at 717,000 mt though butane rose 7.2% to 193,000 mt.
Government-mandated stocks, comprising a large portion of privately held LPG stocks, edged down 2.9% month on month to 1.108 million mt at the end of June, the data showed.
