LNG freight rates dip, spot prices remain high

Charter rates for the global liquefied natural gas carrier fleet dipped this week as vessel availability increased, while spot LNG prices remain well above $30/MMBtu.

According to Spark Commodities, LNG freight rates for a 160,000-cbm TFDE carrier reached $196,000 a day in the Pacific on Tuesday, down $131,000 or 40 percent since last Tuesday.

This marked the largest ever one-week decline for the Spark25 Pacific spot rates, it said.

Previously, the Spark25 Pacific spot rate hit a record high of $374,500 per day on November 26.

This was even higher than January this year when a cold snap in Asia and Europe boosted Atlantic spot rates to $322,500 per day.

Spot LNG at about $35/MMBtu

The JKM spot LNG price surged to $56.326/MMBtu in October due to the gas price crisis in Europe and winter restocking demand among Asian end-users.

It hit the highest level for the LNG benchmark for Asian spot LNG since Platts launched it in early 2009.

The price declined in the meantime but it continues to trade well above $30/MMBtu.

According to Platts, the JKM for January reached $35.730/MMBtu on Tuesday.

Dutch TTF price also surged this week and is now trading above 120 euros per MWh.

Most Popular

QatarEnergy: LNG facilities not affected by Ras Laffan explosion

State-owned LNG giant QatarEnergy said that its LNG facilities in Ras Laffan were not affected by the explosion and fire at the Barzan gas facility on Sunday.

Golden Pass LNG seeks FERC OK to start commissioning of second train

Golden Pass LNG, a joint venture of energy giants QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil, is seeking approval from the US FERC to kick off the commissioning process for the second liquefaction train at its three-train plant in Texas.

Poland’s Gaz-System says second Gdansk FSRU will be built

Poland’s state-owned LNG terminal operator Gaz-System said on Tuesday that the second FSRU as part of the LNG import project in Gdansk Bay will be built following a successful open season for regasification capacity.

More News Like This

Atlantic and Pacific LNG shipping rates down this week

Atlantic and Pacific liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping dropped this week compared to the prior week, according to Spark Commodities.

Atlantic and Pacific LNG shipping rates climb this week

Atlantic and Pacific liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping rates rose this week compared to the prior week, according to Spark Commodities.

Atlantic LNG shipping rates drop this week

Atlantic liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping rates dropped this week, while the Pacific rates rose slightly compared to the prior week, according to Spark Commodities.

Atlantic and Pacific LNG shipping rates continue to increase

Atlantic and Pacific liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping rates continued to rise this week, with the Atlantic rates rising above $100,000 per day, according to Spark Commodities.