*Latest Chinese import data show the country imported a record 6.58mn tons of LNG in January, the third straight monthly record. Total imports of 18.8mn t for the three key winter buying months (November-January) were up 32% year-on-year, somewhat less than the phenomenal 40% gains seen for 2018 as a whole (MEES, 1 February).

*Australia remained top supplier for January, as for every month since mid-2016. But number two Qatar supplied a record 1.40mn tons. January was also the first month ever that China was Qatar’s top customer, ahead of Korea (1.17mn tons) and Japan (0.93mn t). (CONTINUED - 276 WORDS)