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Asian spot LNG costs remain above $12 for 8th week running

Asian area liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices fell somewhat this week, tracking European gas costs, amidst soft Chinese demand however they stayed above $12.00. for the eighth week running.

The average LNG price for August delivery into north-east. Asia << LNG-AS > was at $12.10 per million British thermal units. ( mmBtu), industry sources approximated, below $12.20/ mmBtu the. previous week, industry sources estimated.

Costs for September delivery were approximated at. $ 11.80/ mmBtu.

Increased hydro( power) schedule in China is pushing. demand, while economic indications like inflation and manufacturer. costs are also not encouraging of boosted development for the 2nd. half of the year, stated Klaas Dozeman, market analyst at. Creation Commodity Intelligence.

Dozeman said that the latest outlook for the La Nina weather condition. pattern, which is characterised by cold temperature levels in the. Pacific Ocean throughout July-September, has damaged for the third. successive month.

A weaker La Nina typically decreases the need for winter season. restocking and reduces the threat of high gas demand in the U.S. and Asia, though major risk remains as any late summertime heat in. Asia might increase this need for LNG, he added.

In general, the Asia region stays well balanced with increasing. temperatures in north-east Asia, and continuing monsoons in. south and south-east Asia decreasing the need for gas-fired power. generation, said Charles Costerousse, senior LNG analyst at. Kpler.

In Japan, high temperatures have included some upward pressure,. with additional power need and additional thermal power plants. drawn into action. LNG stocks in terminal tanks have dropped as. an outcome, said Alex Froley, senior LNG analyst at ICIS.

In Europe, underground stocks remain seasonally strong and. strong renewables generation compared to in 2015 has. suppressed gas need, while strong Norwegian supply has. reduced spot LNG buying, stated Martin Elder, deputy head of. LNG pricing at Argus.

S&P Global Commodity Insights assessed its everyday North West. Europe LNG Marker (NWM) price standard for freights delivered in. August on an ex-ship (DES) basis at $9.824/ mmBtu on July 11, a. $ 0.85/ mmBtu discount to the August gas rate at the Dutch TTF. center.

Argus examined the August delivery cost at $11.525/ mmBtu,. while Glow Commodities examined it at $9.755/ mmBtu.

In the United States, the market is closely keeping an eye on the. restart of U.S. Freeport LNG production, which has protectively. shut down operations due to Hurricane Beryl.

U.S. LNG export business Freeport's plant in Texas started. pulling in small amounts of natural gas on Thursday, according. to LSEG information.

Traders will need to factor in the capacity for further. storms later in the season which runs up until November. One past. example of problems sought Typhoon Laura at the end of. August 2020 that led the Cameron LNG plant to shut for big. parts of September and October, ICIS' Froley said.

Following 9 weeks of considerable freight rate boosts,. the Atlantic rates reduced to $88,250/ day on Friday. On the other hand, the Pacific rates rose to $56,750/ day, its highest. level since February, said Spark Commodities expert Qasim. Afghan.

(source: Reuters)