LNG: Churning it out
Producers face a further period of low prices as more production comes online
The liquefied natural gas market of 2018 will bear many similarities to the present one. The market in 2017 remained in a period of LNG oversupply that began in 2016. Although the year opened with strong demand, due to low winter temperatures and nuclear outages, forcing Asian spot prices to near $10 per million British thermal units, we saw prices return to pre-winter levels in all major regions in March. As warmer weather returned and the seasonal demand fell, it became evident that the favourable market for LNG suppliers of the early 2000s had led supply to catch up and overtake demand. Even though the winter temperatures have brought back high demand, the supply glut is expected to ret
Also in this section
29 April 2026
The UAE’s exit from the alliance marks a decisive step towards a world in which oil markets are shaped less by collective management and more by national strategy
29 April 2026
Trafigura’s $1b prepayment agreement confirms African resource holders’ renewed interest in oil-backed financing deals as they look to capitalise on high oil prices
29 April 2026
The UAE’s departure from the oil producers’ group was a surprise to many, but the move can be traced back to a single point five years ago
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations






