Asian Spot LNG Prices Edge Higher
Asian spot LNG prices edged higher this week, the first rise in 11 weeks, as production outages in the Asia-Pacific region tightened supplies and as more prompt demand emerged.
Spot price for May delivery of LNG in Asia rose by 30 cents to $5.70 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) as supply disruptions in Russia and Australia spooked buyers.
Production at Sakhalin-2's LNG plant in Russia was temporarily suspended this week following an accident at one of its production platforms, while Chevron (CVX)'s Gorgon Train 2 production line was halted for maintenance works.
Traders said two spot deals for prompt April-delivery cargoes, purchased by Japanese firms Kansai Electric and JERA at close to $6 per mmBtu, indicated that the prompt market was tight.
"Activity is resuming and Brent crude and [the UK's] National Balancing Point (NBP) are all going up so I can see how a distressed buyer would pay six dollars for a prompt April cargo," a European-based trader said in reference to the Kansai deal.
The high levels for April cargoes has translated into firmer prices for early-May cargoes, a Singapore-based trader said, adding that prices for cargoes due for end-May delivery could weaken as supplies look to be less tight during that period.
"Market was agitated this week with shutdowns and thin availability for prompt," the Singapore trader said.
More details on Middle East tender awards that closed last week have emerged. Jordan's National Electric Power Co awarded its import tender seeking a cargo for May delivery to Shell at around $5.50 per mmBtu. Kuwait's KPC also bought a cargo from Shell at a $5.25 per mmBtu, traders said.
Mexican state-run power utility CFE purchased an early-April delivery cargo this week, trade sources said, adding that it fetched a premium price because of the promptness of the delivery period. Traders estimated the premium to be about $6 per mmBtu.
"The market is tighter with additional demand coming from the Middle East, Far East and Latin America," a second European-based trader said.
"Low prices are the main driver of demand especially for price-sensitive regions like South America and India, while companies in the Far East are taking advantage of bargain prices to fill up storages on the cheap ahead of summer," the trader added.
More sell tenders for prompt April cargoes from Angola and Abu Dhabi were also released this week.
By Mark Tay and Oleg Vukmanovic
