Asia's new buyers

The region's established LNG importers need less gas, but a crop of emerging economies offer succour-and risk-to exporters

Lower-than-expected liquefied natural gas demand in northeast Asia's mature gas markets of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan means exporters are casting further afield for buyers. The good news for exporters is that new LNG customers are emerging in southeast Asia offering the potential to absorb some of the excess supply-provided sellers can offer cheap enough gas, and flexible delivery time-frames and volumes. Countries looking to increase their LNG use in the coming decade include China and India, with demand also emerging in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and others. While some of these countries presently account for a small share of total Asian LNG