OREANDA-NEWS.  June 29, 2012. China imported 1.14 million mt of LNG in May, up 17.7% from the same month last year and up 7.81% from April, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.

Australia was China's top LNG supplier in May, sending 323,724 mt, down a marginal 0.27% year on year and 0.29% month on month.

Australia also supplied China with its cheapest LNG at USD 173.38/mt (USD3.33/MMBtu), down 3.13% year on year and edging up 1.15% from April.

China paid an average USD 511.43/mt (USD 9.84/MMBtu) for its May shipments, up 15.4% from the same month a year earlier and down 3.05% from April.

The most expensive imports were from Qatar at USD 999.90/mt (USD 19.23/MMBtu), up 28.06% year on year and up 1.52% from April. Qatar was also China's second-largest supplier, sending 320,627 mt, up 105.5% year on year and down 25.7% from April.