Weekly changes in LNG bunker prices:
- ARA up by $47/mt to $1,031/mt
- Singapore up by $36/mt to $1,202/mt
- Baltics up by $46/mt to $1,137/mt
Europe
European LNG bunker prices have risen alongside front-month TTF, which gained $0.86/MMBtu ($45/mt) on the week, as Iran suspended peace negotiations with the US and the prospect of a Strait of Hormuz reopening have receded. Mind Energy noted that renewed fighting between Israel and Iran pushed front-month TTF up more than €2.50/MWh on Monday.
ARA bunker delivery premiums have nudged wider to $2.62/MMBtu ($136/mt) from $2.58/MMBtu ($134/mt), while Baltic Sea premiums have remained essentially flat at $4.67/MMBtu ($243/mt). EU storage has risen to just under 42% but remains 25% below the five-year average, notes JOGMEC.
The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Greg Molnar noted that non-Gulf LNG supply surged 20% year-on-year in May, adding almost 8 billion cbm and offsetting around 90% of volumes lost through the Hormuz disruption. ANZ Bank commodity strategist Daniel Hynes said global LNG shipments to Europe have dropped in recent weeks as Asian demand picked up, making storage replenishment ahead of winter increasingly difficult.
Asia
Singapore’s LNG bunker price has risen despite a more modest move in front-month JKM, which gained $0.47/MMBtu ($24/mt). The outperformance reflects a widening delivery premium, which has come up to $4.35/MMBtu ($226/mt) from $4.12/MMBtu ($214/mt) last week.
The Singapore-ARA LNG bunker price spread has narrowed from $182/mt to $171/mt.
JOGMEC reported that JKM briefly touched the low-$19/MMBtu ($988/mt) range mid-week, driven by Australian strike action, the suspension of US-Iran peace talks and weather-related demand.
ANZ Bank’s Hynes said China has stepped back into the spot market and that India’s LNG demand is recovering. India has been buying spot cargoes to replace lost Qatari volumes amid record heat pushing electricity demand to new highs.
In other LNG bunker news, K Line has ordered four LNG dual-fuel car carriers from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard, destined for short-sea operations in Europe under its KESS subsidiary.
LNG-capable vessel orders fell to just eight in May, outpaced by 26 LPG-capable newbuilds, according to DNV. The LNG-capable fleet stands at 936 vessels in operation and 688 on order through 2033.
DNV has granted approval in principle to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for a 1,400 TEU LPG dual-fuel container vessel design, drawing on fuel system concepts adapted from LNG-capable ships.
Source: ENGINE
