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Asia spot LNG rates down on muted demand, cooler weather

Asian area liquefied natural gas (LNG) costs fell today on signals of weak economic growth in China while aboveaverage temperatures across China, Japan and South Korea are concerning an end, which would reduce cooling need.

The typical LNG rate for October shipment into north-east Asia << LNG-AS > was at $13.40 per million British thermal units ( mmBtu), market sources estimated, below $14.00/ mmBtu last week.

Poor commercial information from China put warnings on the industrial gas demand for the coming period, signalling weaker financial development, stated Klaas Dozeman, market analyst at Creation Product Intelligence.

In addition, the warmest weather appears to come to an end in the coming weeks as temperatures start to sink on seasonal effects. This might reduce the cooling need over the coming period, he stated.

Dozeman stated that while geopolitical stress are still ongoing in gas delicate markets, the risks did not materialize any disruptions so far.

In Japan, Significant power utilities reported combined LNG storage levels of 1.83 million tonnes (Mt) for Sept. 1, down 11.2% week-on-week but 6.4% higher than at the end of August 2023. However, levels are 9.4% lower than the five-year average of 2.02 Mt for completion of August from 2019-23, said Masanori Odaka, senior analyst at Rystad Energy.

Japan might import additional area LNG for 4Q 2024 shipment, however the volume depends upon the duration of its existing heatwave and the strength of the upcoming winter, Odaka said.

In Europe, gas prices at the Dutch TTF hub shed much of the previous week's gains as projections of stronger renewables output in essential European countries-- specifically Germany-- together with adjustments to Norway's heavy late summer upkeep schedules assisted to weigh on costs, said Samuel Good, head of LNG pricing at commodity rates company Argus.

European gas cost movements primarily took place on the October contracts, with November costs falling less, with continued unpredictability surrounding October and the need for Europe to tread the great line in between increased underground gas stocks heading into winter and the essential system flexibility to handle daily demand and supply distinctions, Good stated.

S&P Global Commodity Insights evaluated its day-to-day North West Europe LNG Marker (NWM) rate standard for cargoes provided in October on an ex-ship (DES) basis at $11.534/ mmBtu on Sept. 5, a. $ 0.20/ mmBtu discount to the October gas price at the Dutch TTF. center.

Spark Products evaluated the price at $11.607/ mmBtu, while. Argus evaluated it at $11.550/ mmBtu.

Soft demand both in the Atlantic and Pacific basins,. paired with sufficient European gas storage levels, have offset. previous supply side issues during the summer upkeep. duration of the Norwegian Continental Rack centers, said. Karim El Afany, managing editor of Atlantic LNG at S&P Global. Commodity Insights.

Atlantic and Pacific LNG freight rates were down for the. fourth week running, with the Atlantic rates falling to. $ 59,250/ day on Friday, and the Pacific rates down to. $ 74,000/ day, stated Glow Commodities expert Qasim Afghan.

(source: Reuters)