European and Asian liquefied natural gas prices declined this week in the absence of geopolitical dramas and as markets adapted to a mixed gas storage picture amid continued market management attempts by the European Union.
US natural gas supplies plunged and prices soared to almost $23 per million British thermal units at several Citygates as extreme cold froze some wells while heating demand soared for gas-fired power and the severe climatic conditions also curbed wind power availability.
Asian liquefied natural gas prices increased as cargo deliveries to China, Japan and South Korea neared 60 shipments per week while European Union wholesale gas prices stalled as storage levels reached more than 80 percent in nations like Germany, Italy and Spain.