Asia increasingly looks to flexible LNG supply

Demand growth and the expiration of existing contracts mean Asian nations will become less reliant on long-term contracted supply

Asia’s reliance on flexible LNG—shipments not bound by destination-specific contracts—is set to increase on the back of higher demand for the fuel. At the same time, contractual term volumes are poised to rise this summer and the coming winter, with China and India set to soak up much of this flexible supply. China will be the main growth driver for demand for flexible cargoes, with imports anticipated to rise over this summer, the upcoming winter and again next summer. Supply of uncommitted, destination-free LNG has seen limited growth this summer but is poised to surge this coming winter and following summer. The jump is dependent on new US projects coming onstream and the planned ramp-up