The decline in crude oil imports came as factors such as reconstruction after the massive quake and tsunami, and rising demand for direct-burn crude for power generation, have yet to offset slowing oil demand from a sluggish economy.

Japan, the world’s third-biggest oil consumer, imported 16.97 million kiloliters (3.56 million barrels per day) of crude oil last month, preliminary customs-cleared data compiled by the Ministry of Finance showed, down from 18.376 million kl in the peak summer month of August. 

Japan’s imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) totaled 6.704 million tons last month, up 11.0 percent from a year earlier. Imports in April-September, the first-half of the fiscal year, rose 14.6 percent to 38.93 million tons, a record high for the half.

Japan’s 10 major utilities consumed a record 4.81 million tons of liquefied natural gas in August, as utilities ramp up gas-fired power generation. Only 10 of the nation’s 54 nuclear reactors are now online as public safety concerns have delayed restarts after checks for maintenance.

Imports of thermal coal for power generation fell 3.9 percent in September to 8.25 million tons, as some coal-fired plants remained shut after the quake, the data showed.

The Japan Crude Cocktail (JCC) price, or the average price for customs-cleared crude oil imports which is used as the benchmark for LNG prices for Japanese buyers, stood at $110.62 a barrel in September. That compared with $76.06 in the same month a year earlier and $114.61 in August.

In yen terms, the JCC price last month was 53,540 yen per kiloliter. That compared with 40,501 yen a year earlier and 56,140 yen in August.