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Asia area prices rise to 8-month leading in the middle of heat need

Asian area liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices increased to their greatest in over eight months, with warmer temperature levels across the area boosting power need for cooling functions.

The average LNG rate for October delivery into north-east Asia << LNG-AS > was at $14.10 per million British thermal systems ( mmBtu), market sources approximated. This is its highest level because December 8.

Continued hot weather in much of northeast Asia, with peak power demand in South Korea earlier today almost topping a. record embeded in the first week of August, has enhanced power gas. burn and weighed on terminal LNG stocks, said Samuel Good, head. of LNG prices at product rates firm Argus.

He added that weather report are suggesting a protracted. end to the summertime cooling need duration, when the region is. usually starting to look to pre-winter stock repletion.

All of South Korea had been under heat warnings, a week. after the end of the yearly monsoon season when heavy rains. pounded mostly the main areas.

A Rystad Energy report said that temperature expectations. continue to be above average for East Asia and lots of parts of. Southeast Asia.

In between Aug. 26 and Sept. 1, the Korean Meteorological. Administration anticipates a 60% possibility for above-average. temperatures, it stated. In Japan, the probability of. above-normal temperature levels remains at 70% throughout the nation. between Aug. 17-23, according to the Japan Meteorological. Firm.

In Europe, S&P Global Commodity Insights assessed its daily. North West Europe LNG Marker (NWM) rate standard for cargoes. delivered in September on an ex-ship (DES) basis at. $ 12.557/ mmBtu on Aug. 15, a $0.15/ mmBtu discount rate to the. September gas price at the Dutch TTF center.

Spark Commodities assessed the cost at $12.608/ mmBtu, while. Argus assessed it at $12.600/ mmBtu.

The TTF gas rate reached its greatest level in eight. months. Increased need for gas - from Asia as well as Europe -. integrated with geopolitical stress in the Middle East and. Russia-Ukraine have pressed the gas cost to the upper end of the. range, stated Hans Van Cleef, chief energy economic expert at. PZ-Energy, describing TTF's rate gains earlier this week on. Monday.

The war circumstances, both in Ukraine and Palestine, do not. seem to be solved in the short term. This ensures that. geopolitical stress, particularly in the upcoming winter season,. could continue to trigger considerable chaos in the gas market.

He added that Europe's gas usage could increase due to the. La Nina weather condition event, which normally causes a cooler winter in. the region.

Meanwhile on LNG freight, Atlantic rates softened this week. to $69,750/ day on Friday, said Glow Commodities analyst Edward. Armitage. Pacific rates also fell to $83,000/ day.

(source: Reuters)