LNG

Energy Aspects remains bearish against JKM–TTF Q1 26 spreads amid dwindling freight rates. Some recent fixtures for two-stroke LNG vessels in the Atlantic basin fell below $100,000 per day, opening the arbitrage for US LNG heading to markets east of Suez via the Cape of Good Hope.

Aktor’s joint venture with Greece’s state gas supplier Depa has signed a deal with Venture Global to import US LNG for domestic use and re-export to Ukraine and Romania. Initial re-exports are intended to start as early as 2026.

Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) is understood to have set a $14/MMBtu cap on spot LNG purchases this summer in response to rising prices in the Atlantic Basin. An additional $2/MMBtu premium is being offered if vendors agree to get payment deferred by one year.

LNG demand growth east of Suez is expected to exceed regionals supply, so Asian buyers are looking to pull some flexible Atlantic cargoes to balance. Energy Aspects is bullish against JKM-TTF spreads over the balance of 2025, though call on cross-basin is lower this year as contractual term cover in the top five Asian markets – China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and India – has fallen to 82% in 2025.

Egypt’s state energy company EGAS has reduced its LNG imports to the Ain Sokhna regas terminal, chartered from Hoegh LNG, by more than a third to 500 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/d). Situated east of Cairo, the Hoegh Gallon FSRU is on an interim charter from the Norwegian shipping company Hoegh, and had been originally destined for Australia.