Platts: Asia May LNG Spot Prices Drop 11.8 Pct

Prices of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for May delivery to Asia fell 11.8% to an average $15.559 per million British thermal units (/MMBtu) as the market continued to cool off ahead of the summer peak demand season, according to the latest Platts Japan/Korea Marker (JKM) for month-ahead delivery.

The data reflects the daily Platts JKM for May assessed between March 17 and April 15, expressed as a monthly average.

The Platts JKM for May was 0.6% higher than the May 2013 average of $15.464/MMBtu. But May prices this year decreased at a faster rate than in the previous year. The May 2014 JKM started the assessment period at $16.05/MMBtu and closed the period at $14.80/MMBtu. In 2013, the May JKM started the month at $15.95/MMBtu before ending at $14.95/MMBtu.

“The current demand picture is looking quite similar to what we saw a year ago, as buyers seem to have covered most of their requirements by term contracts, which is leaving very little demand for incremental volumes from the spot market,” said Stephanie Wilson, managing editor of Asia LNG at Platts, a leading global energy, petrochemicals and metals information provider and a premier source of benchmark price references. “The combination of high inventories and weak appetite for buying spot cargoes resulted in buyers bidding well below offer levels. Sources have indicated that buyers are reluctant to lock in deals in a falling market, as prices last year bottomed out at $14.15/MMBtu on May 15 for June delivery.”

“This year, there are also additional supplies from Angola LNG while the new Papua New Guinea LNG project could add to the supply further out in the summer,” Wilson added.

Meanwhile, prices of thermal coal and fuel oil – possible competing fuels to LNG – were also lower. On a month-over-month basis, thermal coal prices were down 9.3% for the March 17 to April 15 assessment period, while fuel oil prices were down 6.0%.