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Asian spot LNG gains as cooler weather condition drives demand

Asian spot liquefied gas (LNG) rates acquired for a 3rd consecutive week to strike a new high for the year so far as chillier weather condition in the region drove demand.

The average LNG rate for January delivery into northeast Asia << LNG-AS > was at $15.10 per million British thermal systems ( mmBtu), up 3.4% from the previous week, market sources approximated.

Heating demand is set to be particularly strong in Japan, with forecasts for day-to-day minimum temperatures in Tokyo recommending a prolonged duration of colder weather into the start of the brand-new calendar year, stated Samuel Good, head of LNG prices at product rates agency Argus.

LNG stocks held by significant Japanese electric energies were at 2.06 million metric loads as of Nov. 24, down from 2.16 million metric loads throughout the corresponding period of last year and the five-year average of 2.13 million metric tons.

While Beijing is forecast for a mild spell over the coming days, temperature levels are set to dip below seasonal standards in the second half of December, stated Great.

However projections for Seoul recommend a sustained spot of moderate weather, which might substantially limit heating demand through the mid-winter period.

Stronger demand in the area has actually led some LNG vessels initially heading for Europe to divert to Asia instead, he added.

In basic the marketplace stays strong after a recent cold snap in Europe that drew down storage, in addition to ongoing concerns about staying Russian pipeline gas streams to Europe, stated Alex Froley, senior LNG analyst at data intelligence firm ICIS.

New supply is on the horizon, with U.S. Plaquemines and Corpus Christi plants advancing towards brand-new capacity beginning up, but the effect on the instant winter may be reasonably restricted.

In Europe, S&P Global Product Insights examined its day-to-day North West Europe LNG Marker (NWM) price standard for freights delivered in January on an ex-ship (DES) basis at $14.271/ mmBtu. on Nov. 28, a $0.215/ mmBtu discount to the January gas rate at. the Dutch TTF hub.

Argus evaluated the rate at $14.260/ mmBtu, while Spark. Products examined the December shipment cost at. $ 14.083/ mmBtu.

A widening of the JKM-TTF spread today assisted to tighten up. the U.S. arb by means of the Cape of Great Expect December loading,. stated Anais Mathilde La Chon, information expert at Glow Commodities.

Since today, for the U.S. arbs to Asia versus Europe to. break even, freight rates need to be up to $7,750 per day.

Atlantic LNG freight rates increased to $17,500/ day on Friday,. while Pacific rates also acquired to $24,000/ day.

(source: Reuters)