LNG

US arbitrage reverses

As of the final week of September, the arbitrage for US LNG cargoes has effectively reversed, favouring deliveries to Europe over northeast Asia. Shippers have to pay record fees for Panama Canal transits, which is encouraging flexible cargoes from the US Gulf Coast to discharge in northwest Europe instead of Asia, shortening average voyage distances and increasing vessel availability in the Atlantic basin. Reduced tonne-mile demand, in turn, puts downward pressure on spot rates as well as forward freight rates. Fourth-quarter LNG freight rates were last seen about $53,000/day, the second-lowest Q4-level on record. The US Gulf to European Continent freight rate at the Baltic Exchange (BLNG2), defined as a delivery from Sabine Pass to the UK-Continent/Isle of Grain, increased from $24,700/day to $32,400/day. By comparison, the BLNG3 rate for US Gulf Coast deliveries to Japan climbed from $51,900/day to $66,000/day as per market close on September 25.