LNG

North Asian spot liquefied natural gas cargo prices soared to over $20 per million British thermal units amid colder weather in China and Japan as 111 shipments were lifted this week from plants in the Pacific and Atlantic Basins as well as the Arab Gulf region and were pointing at Asia.

Global cargo liftings of liquefied natural gas declined after four weeks of increases, but North Asia spot LNG prices broke through the $10.00 per million British thermal units level and North Sea Brent crude cleared $51 a barrel amid concerns about future US energy policies, reflected in higher Gulf Coast LNG futures prices.