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Asia area prices buoyed by hot summertime weather report

Asian area liquefied natural gas (LNG) costs held steady this week as forecasts of higher temperature levels during the summer months in the northern hemisphere kept need elevated for electricity utilized for cooling functions.

The typical LNG rate for August shipment into north-east Asia << LNG-AS > was at $12.50 per million British thermal units ( mmBtu), industry sources estimated, a little below $ 12.60/ mmBtu the previous week.

Cooling power need continues to underpin northeast Asian LNG demand, said Samuel Good, head of LNG rates at product pricing firm Argus, adding that Asian purchasers have been looking for late summer season cargo shipments.

Japanese importers have actually been seeking spot freights this week, with Kansai Electric seeking a late July or early August delivery, while another Japanese energy was thinking about a freight for September delivery, stated Rystad Energy senior expert Masanori Odaka.

Asia remains the favored location for U.S. free-on-board (FOB) LNG cargoes as the arbitrage remains open in June for August and September shipment.

LNG stocks held by Japan's major electrical energy utilities, a. crucial and the most recent indicator of the stockpile level, was. last at 2.08 million metric tons as of June 23, down from 2.14. million metric lots a week earlier, according to data released by. the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Market (METI).

Demand from Chinese importers nevertheless is not expected to be. as strong as in the very first half of the year when area rates were. listed below $10/mmBtu, included Odaka.

China now has much more contracted volume, which makes it. less required to scramble for area volume, he stated.

On the supply side, Chevron said at the start of the. week it had actually resumed complete LNG and domestic gas production rates. at its Wheatstone gas center in Australia. The business had. suspended output on June 10 to complete repairs to the. facility's fuel gas system.

In Europe, S&P Global Commodity Insights evaluated its day-to-day. northwest Europe LNG Marker (NWM) price benchmark for cargoes. delivered in August on an ex-ship (DES) basis at $10.858/ mmBtu. on June 27, a $0.50/ mmBtu premium to the August gas rate at the. Dutch TTF hub.

Argus assessed the August delivery rate at $10.750/ mmBtu,. while Glow Commodities assessed the July shipment price at. $ 10.731/ mmBtu.

Europe gas rates last edged lower on Friday amidst strong LNG. products, however stayed supported by continuous supply concerns. about a possible cut-off in Russian gas supplies via Ukraine.

Egypt had totally awarded 20 LNG freights in its newest tender,. its biggest purchase of the fuel to cover heavy summer season need. from July through September, trade sources said. The freights. were granted mainly to trading homes consisting of TotalEnergies,. Vitol and Trafigura.

On the other hand, LNG freight rates in the Atlantic continued. experiencing record weekly gains, rising by $12,000 to. $ 87,000/ day on Friday, said Glow Commodities expert Qasim. Afghan. Pacific rates are also beginning to increase, he stated,. acquiring $4,000 to $51,750/ day.

(source: Reuters)