LNG Asia – September 2026
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Signs of thaw emerge in US-China LNG trade
China’s state-owned oil and gas company CNOOC is considering rekindling direct commercial ties with American energy companies, as signs of a trade thaw emerge between the world’s largest LNG producer and the world’s largest LNG importer. Direct US LNG imports to China have ground to a halt following an escalation in trade tariffs, which are now hoped be gradually removed.
Hudong-Zhonghua expands Shanghai yard as LNGC backlog grows
China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group is expanding its production facilities at Changxing Island in Shanghai to address its growing backlog of LNG carriers and other large vessels. The shipyard’s LNGC orderbook grew to nearly 60 ships by summer 2026, up from 57 at the start of the year.
Insurance costs reshape LNG shipping economics
Security costs, rather than freight fundamentals, are increasingly determining LNG shipping economics. Owners face between 6 and 10 million dollars for every single shipment simply to secure additional insurance cover, said Tom Beney, Senior Vice President of Ocean Freight at StoneX.
HPCL on the lookout for term LNG supply
India’s Hindustan Petroleum Corp keeps calling on LNG suppliers, producers and traders to register interest in supplying 1 mtpa over a period of 10-15 years. Analysts treat the notice as an “expression of interest (EOI) exercise” whereby suppliers can register without a bid deadline.
Petronet seeks clarity on September Qatari LNG cargoes
India’s largest LNG importer, state-owned Petronet LNG, is awaiting clarity from QatarEnergy on deliveries of September LNG cargoes, as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted, Managing Director and CEO Akshay Kumar Singh said during an earnings presentation.
ONGC, Shell explore LNG opportunities
India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and Shell Energy India agreed to explore joint opportunities in deepwater oil and gas exploration, plus LNG sourcing.
China’s syngas expansion could displace 20 Mt of LNG
China’s push to build out its coal-to-gas (CTG) industry will curb reliance on imported LNG. Targeted to reach 28 Bcm/year of synthetic gas production by 2030, Beijing’s CTG program equates to roughly 20 mtpa of pipeline quality gas that can substitute for imported LNG.
CNOOC’s Binhai LNG terminal resumes reload trade
CNOOC's Binhai regasification terminal in Jiangsu has resumed commercial LNG reloads and received its 100th LNG carrier, underscoring its role in the Chinese gas trading market.
Demand destruction, fuel switching in Japan and Korea offsets tight LNG supply
Global gas demand is on course for a 4 percent fall, with damage to gas processing facilities curbing fertiliserproduction in the Middle East and high LNG prices accelerating gas-to-coal switching in Japan and South Korea, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts.
