Japan increased imports of liquefied natural gas from the Atlantic Ocean area ninefold in January after a nuclear power plant was shut last year for safety checks after a deadly earthquake.

The nation purchased 581,072 metric tons from countries led by Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria, according to statistics posted on the Finance Ministry's Web site.

Japan, the world's biggest user of LNG, paid an average of ¥77,000 a ton for the spot cargoes, about 7.8 percent higher than last year.

Japan bought 5.95 million tons of LNG in January through multiyear contracts and the spot market.