LNG spot trading on a roll
Growth in “true” LNG spot trading is set to continue, with an emergent role for portfolio players and traders
Spot and short-term LNG recorded an impressive increase in occurred in 2018—rising from 27pc of global physical trade the previous year to 32pc. But that headline figure masks a trend of arguably much greater significance. The latest annual report from LNG importers' group GIIGNL shows that 'true' spot trading has been rising rapidly since 2016. And the signs are that this surge is set to continue for at least another couple of years as additional more flexible production capacity comes on stream, especially in the United States, and as long-term contracts expire. Not only is this rise a sign of growing liquidity in physical LNG trading—as the industry moves ever closer towards commoditisati
Also in this section
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
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls
28 April 2026
Datacentres will guzzle power at a ferocious rate, but the impact on wider energy markets will be far more complex than previously thought
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
