LNG shipments to Asia fall to six-year low
The 30-day moving average of LNG shipments to Asia has fallen below 600,000 metric tons over the weekend – the weakest pace of arrivals in nearly six years, Bloomberg ship-tracking data shows. The decline reflects constrained vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz and higher freight costs.
TTF prices to near €100/MWh if Qatari LNG halt lingers on
Gas prices at the Dutch TTF, Europe’s benchmark gas trading hub, could average €90-100 per Megawatt-hour (MWh) if the shut-in of Ras Laffan and suspension of Qatari LNG shipment continues for the next three months, an analysts’ poll finds.
Italian PM visits Algeria for pipeline gas to replace Qatari LNG
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is scheduled to visit Algeria this week, seeking to step up pipeline gas imports after QatarEnergy notified Edison it cannot deliver the five contracted cargoes due in early April.
China urges Iran to ensure safe passage for Qatari LNG carriers
The Chinese government is urging Iran to ensure safe passage for Qatari LNG carriers and crude oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as Beijing relies heavily on these imports. Shipments have dropped from an average 20 to 24 LNG tankers per day at the beginning of 2026 down to zero.
Trafigura signs 5-year LNG supply deal with Venture Global
Venture Global LNG has agreed to sell about 0.5 mtpa of US LNG to commodity trader Trafigura for five years starting in 2026. The contract highlights how traders are locking in flexible US LNG volumes to brace for the risk of a protracted halt of shipments out of Qatar.
Mitsui close to buying stake in $17.5bn Qatar LNG expansion
Japanese trading company Mitsui & Co is in advanced negotiations to buy a minority stake in Qatar’s North Field South LNG expansion, a 16 mtpa liquefaction project being developed at an estimated cost of $17.5 billion. The deal would give Mitsui access to one of the world’s lowest-cost LNG developments.
US ships 34 cargoes this week
A total of 34 cargoes departed from US LNG terminals this week, to more than in the prior week, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Feedstock supply to export terminals averaged 13.6 bcm/d of natural gas, with most shipments from US Gulf Coast terminals bound for destinations in Europe and Asia. Analysts note that US LNG exports remain “robust” as seasonal heating demand begins to rise.
JERA capitalises on growing LNG-burn in Southeast Asia
Japan’s largest LNG buyer JERA is capitalising on the growing need to burn LNG for power generation in Malaysia and Indonesia. According to Izumi Kai, CEO of Singapore-based JERA Asia, dwindling domestic gas production in the region makes it “very difficult” to meet energy needs with renewables and battery storage alone.
NFE withholds LNG shipments to Puerto Rico in tactical move
New Fortress Energy (NFE) is withholding shipments to Puerto Rico over disputed payment terms. The withheld cargoes undermine the island’s ability to meet electricity demand, raising the risk of blackouts during the peak summer season.
PTT to offtake 2 mtpa from Glenfarne’s Alaska LNG project
Glenfarne, lead developer of Alaska LNG, has announced Thailand’s largest traded company PTT signed an agreement to offtake 2 mtpa of LNG from the terminal over a 20-year term. Shipments from Alaska to Asia are priced lower than Henry Hub-indexed cargoes from the U.S. Gulf Coast.
