LNG

European Union liquefied natural gas prices were still solid this week and stronger than those for Asia even as the weather turned mild and Germany’s gas storage was over 64 percent filled despite only very small volumes of LNG reaching the German floating import facilities as they continued commissioning and set-up activities.

European and Asian natural gas market prices declined again with the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) benchmark falling by over 7 percent on the week to about $14.5 per million British thermal units as more LNG cargoes were pointed at Europe, though the current price was well down on the $53.8 per MMBtu that prevailed exactly a year ago after the Russian invasion of Ukraine caused chaos in already tight global gas markets.

July 29 (LNG) - Shipping spot charter rates for LNG carriers were unchanged for a second week. Rates in the West of Suez market were quoted at between $67,000 per day and $63,000 per day for vessels of 155,000-165,000 cubic metres capacity.

   East of Suez spot charter rates were between $55,000 per day and $51,000 per day, according to London brokers. One-year charter rates for the most modern vessels were quoted at around $93,000 per day.

May 27 (LNGJ) - Shipping charter rates for LNG carriers in the spot market declined in the past week by up to $6,000 per day in the West of Suez market to between $59,000 per day and $56,000 per day for vessels of 155,000-165,000 cubic metres capacity. For vessels East of Suez fixture levels were down by about $8,000 per day and were quoted at between $61,000 per day and $58,000 per day, according to London brokers. One-year charter rates for the most modern vessels were unchanged at around $77,000 per day.

May 7 (LNGJ) - Shipping charter rates for LNG carriers in the spot market were little changed over the past week. Rates were quoted at an average of between $37,000 per day and $33,000 per day West of Suez and at rates of between $34,000 per day and $30,000 per day East of Suez for vessels of between 155,000-165,000 cubic metres capacity, according to various brokers. One-year time charters were steady for the most modern vessels and were seen at rates of around $44,000 per day.