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Asia area prices slip as Freeport LNG loadings resume, Japan stocks increase

Asian area liquefied natural gas (LNG) costs relieved today, in the middle of a resumption of filling at Freeport LNG in the United States and increasing inventory levels held by major Japanese energies.

The average LNG rate for September delivery into north-east Asia << LNG-AS > was at $12.00 per million British thermal units ( mmBtu), market sources estimated, down from $12.20/ mmBtu last week.

Rates relieved regardless of hot weather driving power demand in some parts of northeast Asia due to a number of factors, said Ana Subasic, analyst at information and analytics firm Kpler.

These consist of the return of loadings at the U.S. Freeport LNG plant, high gas stock levels at Japanese power energies, and weak need in China.

Freeport LNG's export plant in Texas was on track to return to service on Thursday after shutting on Wednesday, according to LSEG data and a filing with Texas ecological regulators.

Freeport LNG had resumed shipments on Monday after shutting operations ahead of Hurricane Beryl, but said in a filing on Wednesday that it needed to rapidly reduce gas flow rates to zero due to a site journey.

In Japan, a major LNG importer, stockpiles held by major energies rose to 2.35 million metric lots on July 21, according to the current Ministry of Economy, Trade and Market information.

This is 21% higher than a year previously, and 7% above the five-year average of 2.19 million metric loads from 2019-2023.

A broadening spread between Dutch Title Transfer Facility ( TTF) gas and Japan/Korea LNG prices links that demand for LNG in Asia is larger than in Europe at the moment, stated Hans Van Cleef, primary energy economic expert at PZ-Energy.

Still, the spread remains relatively small, as tight market conditions continue to top downside threats in gas prices in basic in both Asia and Europe.

In Europe, S&P Global Product Insights examined its everyday North West Europe LNG Marker (NWM) rate benchmark for freights provided in September on an ex-ship (DES) basis at $ 10.294/ mmBtu on July 25, a $0.09/ mmBtu discount rate to the September gas price at the Dutch TTF hub.

Argus assessed the September shipment rate at $10.25/ mmBtu,. while Spark Commodities assessed the August delivery rate at. $ 9.98/ mmBtu.

On LNG freight, Atlantic rates succumbed to a 3rd successive. week to $75,000/ day on Friday, said Spark Commodities expert. Qasim Afghan.

Pacific rates, nevertheless, saw a fifth successive weekly. boost, increasing to $72,750/ day.

(source: Reuters)