Natural gas prices in Asia and Europe jumped on Friday as the market digested reports that Qatar has extended the force majeure on its LNG deliveries into November amid still blocked transits through the Strait of Hormuz. In Asia, the spot LNG price jumped to $23.388 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) on Friday, traders told Bloomberg. The spot LNG price has been hovering at four-year high levels this week, as supply has tightened with the absence of Qatari term deliveries since the Iran war began. In addition, utilities in Asia have been…
LNG Market Background
The global LNG market has undergone a structural transformation in recent years, with U.S. exports reshaping trade flows and providing consuming nations with greater supply optionality. European buyers have accelerated long-term LNG contracting following the disruption of Russian pipeline gas supplies.
New LNG liquefaction capacity — from the U.S. Gulf Coast, Qatar's North Field expansion, and Australian projects — is expected to add significant supply volumes through the late 2020s, with implications for long-term contract pricing and spot market dynamics.
What to Watch
Stakeholders will be tracking spot LNG cargo pricing in Asian and European markets, liquefaction plant utilization rates, and upcoming long-term supply contract negotiations as global LNG trade flows continue to evolve.
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