Contracts

Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) buyers, hammered by high spot prices in Asia, are increasingly looking to short-term “bridge” contracts to ensure ample supply until demand is expected to cool down later this decade, according to an analysis by Wood Mackenzie. Asian spot prices are hovering around $12/MMBtu for June and July delivery as demand…

India’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) buyers have grown frustrated with the long-term offtake contract model and are pressing U.S. sellers for more flexible terms, a Gail India Ltd. executive said Wednesday. Since prices cratered last year amid weak demand driven by the pandemic, customers have grown used to paying lower prices for delivered gas, said…

The cold snap earlier this winter in Asia and Europe that sent prices skyrocketing and buyers scrambling for liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes was an indication that the global market is becoming too reliant on spot deliveries, said Freeport LNG CEO Michael Smith.  “There’s been an overreliance on spot cargoes in our industry,” he said…

Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) said Wednesday it plans to launch two liquefied natural gas (LNG) freight futures contracts next month, giving traders, vessel charterers and other market participants another tool to manage increasingly volatile shipping costs in the space. ICE said the contracts would be based on LNG freight spot price assessments by Spark Commodities,…

Commonwealth Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has launched a tender soliciting bids from potential offtakers that could acquire supply from the proposed project in Louisiana at volumes, pricing and durations of their choosing.  The company is aiming to accelerate the supply contracting process by offering more flexibility. Offtakers could buy on a tolling, free-on-board (FOB) or…

Natural gas pipeline giant Williams has received a past-due payment of $112 million from Chesapeake Energy Corp. after a court approved a resolution between the two companies last month as part of the producer’s bankruptcy proceedings. The Tulsa-based pipeliner reached a global resolution in November to continue treating and moving Chesapeake’s natural gas in the…

Naturgy, one of Spain’s major natural gas buyers, said last week it has negotiated new terms for two contracts with one of its primary LNG suppliers in a dual symbol of how the global gas trade is evolving and how such discussions can have varying outcomes. A supply glut and weak market made weaker by…

The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) said Wednesday that it continues to see record levels of open interest across its Asian, European and North American natural gas benchmarks as worldwide trade of the fuel has liberalized.

You need some serious tonnage to move vast quantities of super-chilled natural gas from one continent to another. The massive ships used to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) add another element to the export trade that can’t be overlooked for those who want to better understand the market.