Australia LNG exports hit a record high

　　Xinhua News Agency, Canberra, January 16 (Reporter Zhao Bo) According to a report released by Australian energy consultancy EnergyQuest on the 16th, the export of liquefied natural gas in Australia in 2006 reached 56.8 million tons, a record high, up 26.3% over 2016.

　　The report said that the increase in LNG exports to Australia was mainly due to rising oil prices and increasing demand in China. In 2017, Australia's LNG export to China increased to 17.5 million tons from 12.4 million tons in the previous year.

　　Graeme Bethune, the consulting firm's chief executive, said that at present, China is Australia's second largest LNG export market and Australia is China's largest supplier of liquefied natural gas.

　　The report shows that in 2017, the export of liquefied natural gas in Australia amounted to 25.8 billion Australian dollars (1 U.S. dollar or 1.255 Australian dollars), an increase of 44.1% over 2016. Bethune said liquefied natural gas jumped from Australia's fifth-largest export in 2016 to third-largest exports in 2017, beating gold and education.

　　The report shows that Australia is the world's second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, followed by Qatar. Japan is currently Australia's largest export market for liquefied natural gas and South Korea is the third largest market.