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Summary Report - 1st Quarter, 2002


The Office of Natural Gas & Petroleum Import & Export Activities prepares quarterly reports showing natural gas import and export activity. Companies are required, as a condition of their authorizations, to file quarterly reports. This report is for the first quarter of 2002 (January through March).

Attachment A shows the percentage of takes to maximum firm contract levels and the weighted average per unit price for each of the long-term importers during the 5 most recent reporting quarters.

Attachment B shows volumes and prices of gas purchased by long-term importers and exporters during the past 12 months.

Attachment C shows volume and price data for gas imported on a short-term or spot market basis.

Attachment D shows the gas exported on a short-term or spot market basis to Canada and Mexico.

First Quarter Highlights: The table below illustrates the changes in activity compared to the first quarter of 2001.

Canadian Imports

LNG Imports

Mexican Imports

Total Imports

Mexican Exports

Canadian Exports

Japanese Exports

Total Exports

955.0 Bcf

25.8 Bcf

1.7 Bcf

982.5 Bcf

40.6 Bcf

33.3 Bcf

15.0 Bcf

88.9 Bcf

down 4%

down 59%

down 43%

down 7.5%

up 73.5%

down 29%

steady

up 4.3%

See details below for more information.

Puerto Rican Imports

5.2 Bcf

up 86%

The Puerto Rican imports are shown in the table above, in the quarterly summary on the next page, and in Attachment B-1. However, these imports are not reflected in any of the summary totals found on this page, as the summaries are only for trade pertaining to the continental U.S.

During the first quarter, only one importer of LNG (Distrigas Corp.) brought in 10 cargoes from 2 different countries (Algeria and Trinidad), totaling 25.8 Bcf.

First Quarter Data: Comparing first quarter 2002 to first quarter 2001 data, total imports under long-term contracts decreased. Natural gas imports under all long-term contracts totaled 217.6 Bcf, compared to 264.5 Bcf in the first quarter of 2001. Of this total, long-term Canadian imports were down 16 percent (203.0 v. 241.8 Bcf). The average price of this gas was $2.82 per MMBtu, which is 2 cents or 0.7 percent lower than the preceding quarter and $3.70 or 57 percent lower than the first quarter of 2001. Long-term LNG imports decreased 35.7 percent (14.6 v. 22.7 Bcf). Under long-term LNG imports, Distrigas imported 2.7 Bcf from Algeria at an average price of $3.35 and 11.9 Bcf from Trinidad at $2.85.

During the first quarter, 93 companies used short-term authorizations to import 764.9 Bcf, which is a 3.8 percent decrease over the first quarter of 2001 (795.0 Bcf). Of this total, 752.0 Bcf was imported from Canada at an average price of $2.41 per MMBtu, compared to 754.1 Bcf at $7.31 in the first quarter of 2001, and 689.1 Bcf at $2.43 in the previous quarter. Imports from Mexico totaled 1.7 Bcf at an average price of $2.36, compared to 5.0 Bcf at $6.50 in the first quarter of 2001 and 3.0 Bcf at $2.42 last quarter. Short-term LNG imports totaled 11.2 Bcf for the quarter, compared to 8.7 Bcf last quarter. Under short-term LNG import contracts, Distrigas imported 11.2 Bcf from Trinidad at a weighted average price of $3.20.

The following is a breakdown of short-term imports from Canada by point of entry.

Point of Entry

% of Imports

Wt. Avg. $

Eastport, ID

Port of Morgan, MT

Sherwood, ND

Sumas, WA

Noyes, MN

Niagara Falls, NY

Grand Island, NY

Calais, ME

Waddington, NY

Other

23

23

17

11

8

7

4

2

2

3

$2.26

$2.24

$2.29

$2.29

$2.35

$2.79

$2.84

$2.44

$2.78

$2.61

In addition, 19 short-term export authorizations were used, exporting a total of 73.9 Bcf of gas. Fourteen companies exported 33.3 Bcf to Canada, at an average price of $2.36 per MMBtu. Five companies exported 40.6 Bcf to Mexico at $2.57. Finally, 15 Bcf of LNG was exported to Japan at $3.96 (delivered).

Year to Date Data: Comparing the first 3 months of 2002 with the first 3 months of 2001, total gas imports decreased 7.5 percent (982.5 v. 1,062.4 Bcf) and total gas exports increased 4.3 percent (88.9 v. 85.3 Bcf). Canadian imports decreased 41.3 Bcf or by 4.1 percent (955.0 v. 995.9 Bcf). Mexican imports decreased 43.3 percent (1.7 v. 3.0 Bcf); and LNG imports decreased 59 percent (25.8 v. 63.5 Bcf). Exports to Canada decreased 29 percent (33.3 v. 46.9 Bcf) and exports to Mexico increased 73.5 percent (40.6 v. 23.4 Bcf). LNG exports to Japan remained steady at 15.0 Bcf.

This quarter's focus report is "2001 Natural Gas Import/Export Trade: A Second Look." Any questions or comments about this report should be directed to Yvonne Caudillo at (202) 586-4587 or by E-mail at yvonne.caudillo@hq.doe.gov.

 Page owner:  Fossil Energy Office of Communications
Page updated on: February 18, 2004 

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