LNG — JAPAN (CIF)
Liquefied natural gas import price to Japan. Asian LNG benchmark — directly exposed to Hormuz via Qatar exports.
209 monthly data points from 2010-01-01 to 2026-03-30.
Current$20.53/MMBtu
Change+0.6%
All-Time High$70.04/MMBtu (2022-08-01)
All-Time Low$1.58/MMBtu (2020-05-01)
2019 Avg$5.00/MMBtu
Data Points209
ALL-TIME (2010–2026)
Full history. Dashed line = 2019 average ($5.00/MMBtu).
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        2010-01                            2018-11                     2026-03
1-YEAR
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        2025-06                            2026-03                     2026-03
CONTEXT
Japan CIF LNG is the benchmark for Asian LNG contract pricing.
Hormuz dependency: Qatar is world's #2 LNG exporter (~80 MTPA). All Qatar LNG transits Hormuz.
Qatar supplies ~20-25% of global LNG trade. Japan, South Korea, China are top buyers.
Hormuz closure → ~25% of global LNG supply offline → Asian spot LNG spikes 3-5x.
2022 precedent: Asian spot LNG hit $70/MMBtu (vs normal $8-12/MMBtu) on Ukraine crisis.
Japan has ~3 weeks of LNG storage (limited tank capacity). South Korea: ~2 weeks.
US LNG (not Hormuz-dependent) becomes swing supplier but limited by export terminal capacity (~13 Bcf/d).
LNG shipping rates also spike as tankers reroute via Cape of Good Hope (+15 days from Qatar).
Source: World Bank Pink Sheet (monthly, 2010–present).
Updated monthly. 209 data points since 2010-01-01.
LinkedIn · rmn [at] project45.pl
If you find errors, want to suggest additions, or have data that should be here — write me.