LNG

Donald Trump’s declaration of a ‘new golden age’ in US–Japan relations is shaping a new phase in LNG trade and resource security. Tokyo Gas is in advanced discussions with American LNG suppliers, while JERA locked in several 20-year offtake deals in a bid to ensure prices stability.

Commonwealth LNG has been granted a regulatory extension of four years to complete its 9.5 mtpa Louisiana export terminal, with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approving a new construction deadline of 31 December 2031.

Hanwha Ocean is expecting higher profits in 2025 from its LNG carrier newbuilding segment. In its third-quarter results, the South Korean shipbuilder said its “robust orderbook” is supporting earnings growth, though demand for LNG carriers is likely to fall from 2026 onwards amid a “normalisation” in global gas demand.

Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET) has allocated all regasification slots offered between 2 January and 26 May 2026 at its Brunsbüttel terminal. A total of 16 slots, each with a size of 3.6 million Btu, were sold at auction at a clearing price of €0.66 per Btu.

Russia's first open sea ship-to-ship LNG transfer is becoming a blueprint for how companies close to the Kremlin can circumvent Western sanctions. Tanker ‘Perle’ carried out the transfer off Malaysia ten days ago, and analysts reckon similar transfers are planned as Russia seeks to redirect LNG cargoes from Europe to Asia in 2026.

Excelerate Energy has agreed to deploy Iraq’s first floating LNG import terminal at the port of Khor Al-Zubair, offering regas services for a minimum contracted offtake of 250 million cubic feet per day. Project investment totals $450 million, inclusive the cost of the FSRU and jetty modifications.

Burckhardt Compression has delivered a turnkey, single-skid packages for LNG terminals in Nicaragua and the Bahamas. The unnamed customer required rapid deployment in a constrained terminal layout, solved by a third-party solution. The choice showcases that the Swiss manufacturer seeks to solve customer problems – not just selling compressors.

Excess capacity and underutilisation make the Philippines hold back on adding new LNG regas terminals through 2030. One new import terminal is in the pre-development stage, but will be shelved, as the two operational terminals with 8.3 mtpa capacity are utilised only 60%.

Orders for LNG vessels have more than halved, with only 38 ships ordered in the first nine months of 2025 – a substantial 56% decline. Investment could pick up from 2026 as more LNG export capacity comes to market and d shipyard capacity expands.

Anew Climate and Seaspan Energy have completed their first ship-to-ship bio-LNG loading at the Port of Long Beach, California. The renewable natural gas used, sourced from Morrow Energy, has a certified carbon intensity of just 7.74 g CO₂e/MJ under the ISCC framework. The successful operation is a step towards scaling bio-LNG supply.