Sakhalin Region exports over 8 mln tonnes LNG in 9 mths
YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK. Oct 7 (Interfax) - Sakhalin Region exported 8.3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in January-September for about $3.1 billion, respective year-on-year increases of 3% and 40%, the regional customs press service told Interfax.
LNG exports represented 33% of the region's $9.4 million worth of exports for the period, which were up 9.7%, in terms of value. The region exported 16.8 million tonnes of product total, of which LNG represented 49% of overall physical volume.
Oil exports weighed in at about 7 million tonnes, down 30% year-on-year but worth more than $5.6 billion.
"The decrease is attributable to Sakhalin customs no longer being involved in export oil declaration. Since April of 2011, that function has lain with the customs post for energy customs in Primorsk Territory," a press service representative said.
Hydrocarbons represented 90% of physical exports and 93% of their value, the spokesman said. Hydrocarbons were exported to Japan, China, and South Korea, he said.
The region's trade turnover for the period amounted to $11.378 billion, up 20% year-on-year. Physical export volume came to more than 16.8 million tonnes. Jan-Sept imports were worth almost $2 billion, a 130% year-on-year increase.
"The growth in imports came about due to declaration by OJSC Gazprom's $878 million floating drilling rig Polyarnaya Zvezda, which is intended for drilling exploratory and production oil and gas wells. Traditionally, 93% of Sakhalin Region's foreign trade turnover is in commodities from the operators of the oil and gas projects Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2. Import goods were brought into Sakhalin Region from the United States, Norway, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Netherlands," the source said.
The region also imported more than 2,400 foreign-made automobiles, mainly from Japan (up 9.4%). The bulk of the vehicles were for private use, and most of them were small-engine economy cars.