Singapore LNG spot cargo indices began moving to levels above the $5.500 per million British thermal units mark as July quotations made an appearance for North Asia just below US$5.800.
The Singapore average index for June was at US$5.203 per MMBtu, rising from last week’s May average of US$4.876 per MMBtu.
Singapore’s latest LNG indices released on April 18 included a price of US$5.055 per MMBtu for the second half of May and higher at US$5.136 per MMBtu for the first half of June.
Prices were quoted on the basis of the surplus in global LNG supplies as Northern Hemisphere summer season trades began amid a solid crude oil price this week of over $70 per barrel.
Cargo prices for the second half of June were at US$5.270 and were higher for the first half of July at US$5.395.
The Sling is an index series for LNG developed by the Singapore Exchange (SGX) and its subsidiary Energy Market Company (EMC).
It is a spot index for cargoes “on the waters in the vicinity of Singapore which could go into any port” and based on cargo sizes of 135,000 cubic metres capacity to 175,000 cubic metres capacity.
The North Asia price increased to a June average of US$5.554 per MMBtu versus last week’s May average of US$5.100 per MMBtu.
North Asia cargoes for the second half of May were at US$5.386 per MMBtu, before rising for the first half of June to US$5.469 per MMBtu, then jumping to US$5.639 for the second half of June.
The first half of July quote for North Asia was the highest on the board at US$5.788 per MMBtu.
The North Asia prices are for delivery ex-ship (DES) to all ports in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China.
The Dubai-Kuwait-India Sling index is assessed in collaboration with London-based, inter-dealer global brokerage Tullett Prebon for regional cargoes shipped to India and the Middle East and averaged US$5.327 per MMBtu for June, an increase from last week’s May average of US$4.990 per MMBtu.
The DKI index, based on a cargo of between 138,000 cubic metres capacity and 170,000 cubic metres, is seen in the second half of May at US$5.197 per MMBtu before increasing to US$5.253 per MMBtu for the first half of June.
The price for the second half of June jumped to US$5.400 per MMBtu and increased further for the first half of July to US$5.533 per MMBtu.
The SGX LNG Index Group (Sling) is an initiative by SGX and EMC for spot LNG price discovery.
It is a benchmark based on assessments of LNG cargo value by market participants. They provide assessments based on the value of an LNG cargo at a specific location for delivery.
The Sling is based on participants submitting assessments to determine an index value.
“The participant pool consists of a broad group of market players to ensure that any Sling Assessment is as representative of actual market conditions as possible,” says the SGX, while pointing out that the participant is kept confidential at all times.
The SGX-EMC LNG prices include both lean and rich cargoes.
