Japan’s Imabari builds LNG-fuelled bulk carriers

Market: Natural gas
10/06/24

Japan's Imabari Shipbuilding is building two LNG-fuelled bulk carriers, with commissioning expected in 2025.

Imabari has placed two additional orders with fellow Japanese firm Mitsubishi Shipbuilding for a fuel gas supply system (FGSS) and LNG fuel tanks for the bulk carriers. Commercial operations of the bulk carriers are expected in mid-2025, although further details such as potential term charters and construction prices are unknown.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding said its FGSS is able to reduce 99pc of sulphur oxide and 86pc of nitrogen oxide compared with conventional carriers using fuel oil. The technology also increases energy efficiency by 40pc that reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions during transportation.

Japanese shipping firms are accelerating their switch to LNG-fuelled vessels from conventional fuel oil, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality.

Japanese engineering firm and shipbuilder Hitachi Zosen is the latest to pursue the technology, carrying out trials during May of a marine fuel engine using "carbon-neutral" LNG using carbon credits obtained from supporting environmental programmes. The process aims to offset CO2 emissions from all production and transportation. Carbon neutral LNG can reduce 98pc of CO2 emissions compared with using fuel oil, Hitachi Zosen said.

Hitachi Zosen, together with Japanese shipping firm Mitsui OSK Line and engineering firm Yanmar Power Technology, are already working on developing technology to reduce methane emissions from LNG-fuelled ships through catalyst and engine improvements. Japan's state-owned research institute Nedo has backed the project for six years to March 2027.

By Reina Maeda

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06/05/25

Trump to end military campaign in Yemen: Update

Updates with details throughout, including Houthi response. Washington, 6 May (Argus) — President Donald Trump said today he will end the US military campaign against Yemen's Houthis, claiming that the militant group pledged to stop attacks on commercial ships passing through the Red Sea. The Houthis reached out with a request to stop the US bombing campaign, and the US will do so immediately, Trump told reporters at the beginning of his meeting with Canada's prime minister Mark Carney on Tuesday. "They don't want to fight anymore," Trump said. "They have capitulated ... And I will accept their word, and we are going to stop the bombing of the Houthis effective immediately." US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who also attended the meeting with Carney, added that if the Houthi attacks "are going to stop, then we can stop." Oman mediated a ceasefire agreement between the US and the Houthis, Oman's foreign minister Badr Albusaidi said in a social media post following Trump's remarks. "In the future, neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping." It was not clear from Albusaidi's statement whether the Houthis committed to stop their attacks on all vessels passing near Yemen's coastline. The Houthis claimed in late 2023 that, out of solidarity with Gaza's Palestinian population, they would attack any ship that was owned by an Israeli company or made calls at an Israeli port. But the Houthi attacks were indiscriminate, effectively crippling the regular passage of oil, LNG and other commercial vessel traffic through Red Sea waterways. The militant group paused its attacks on commercial shipping following the ceasefire in Gaza in January, but resumed them in March, after Israel stopped allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Houthis also launched attacks against Israel, drawing retaliatory strikes by the Israeli Air Force, and on US naval vessels in the Red Sea. There was no explicit confirmation of a ceasefire from Houthi-controlled information outlets. A Houthi spokesman reposted a social media post suggesting that "America stopped its aggression in Yemen" and that "the one who retreated is America." Another media channel used by the group said that "the Israeli and American aggression will not pass without a response and will not deter Yemen from continuing its position in support of Gaza". US president Donald Trump's administration listed its military campaign against Yemen-based Houthis, which began on 15 March, as a key foreign policy accomplishment in his first 100 days in office even though the militant group continued to launch missile and drone attacks — most recently on 4 May against Israel's main airport. Israel responded to the 4 May attack with air strikes on Yemen's port of Hodeidah and, today, on the main airport in Yemen's capital Sanaa. Israel also vowed to retaliate against Tehran, which is the main provider of weapons to the Houthis. The US separately warned Iran to discontinue its military support for the Yemeni militant group. The Trump administration is engaged in talks with Iran to address Tehran's nuclear program, with Iranian officials hoping to use the diplomatic negotiations to press for relief of oil and other sanctions against Iran. Trump said he will visit Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar next week and is widely expected to also visit Israel on the same trip. "Before then, we're going to have a very, very big announcement to make, like, as big as it gets, and I won't tell you on what," Trump said. "But it will be one of the most important announcements that have been made in many years about a certain subject, very important subject." By Haik Gugarats, Nader Itayim and Bachar Halabi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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US onshore crude output likely peaked: Diamondback

06/05/25

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06/05/25

US onshore crude output likely peaked: Diamondback

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Trump to end military campaign in Yemen

06/05/25

News

06/05/25

Trump to end military campaign in Yemen

Washington, 6 May (Argus) — President Donald Trump said today he will end the US military campaign against Yemen's Houthis, claiming that the militant group pledged to stop attacks on commercial ships passing through the Red Sea. The Houthis reached out with a request to stop the US bombing campaign, and the US will do so immediately, Trump told reporters at the beginning of his meeting with Canada's prime minister Mark Carney. "They don't want to fight anymore," Trump said. "We will honor that and we will stop the bombings. They have capitulated." There was no immediate statement by the Houthi group to confirm Trump's comment. US president Donald Trump's administration listed its military campaign against Yemen-based Houthis, which began on 15 March, as a key foreign policy accomplishment in his first 100 days in office even though the militant group continued to launch missile and drone attacks — most recently on 4 May against Israel's main airport. The Houthis resumed attacks on commercial shipping through Red Sea waterways in early March, after a self-declared ceasefire. They also launched attacks against Israel, drawing retaliatory strikes by the Israeli Air Force, and on US naval vessels in the Red Sea. By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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US EIA will not release international outlook in 2025

06/05/25

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06/05/25

US EIA will not release international outlook in 2025

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US may increase Brazil's LNG supply

05/05/25

News

05/05/25

US may increase Brazil's LNG supply

Sao Paulo, 5 May (Argus) — Surplus LNG production from the US may head to Brazilian markets in the coming weeks, potentially increasing Brazilian supply. The Brazilian LNG des discount to LNG des northeast Asia reached its highest level in April since July, while its discount to northwest Europe des hit its highest level since October. Prices may continue to be more attractive in Brazil because market participants expect Asian demand to remain lower. Some surplus availability is poised to emerge from Asian markets now that Chinese production has lost market share in northeast Asia because traditional importers such as Japan and South Korea may eschew China to ensure relations with the rival US, a market participant said. China has not imported a US LNG cargo since enacting retaliatory tariffs in 2 April, according to the Vortexa tracking tool, despite demand has been almost muted since the Chinese retaliatory tariffs on US LNG in February this year. The need for less heating gas due to mild weather and sufficient inventories in northeast Asia made US LNG less competitive and kept availability in the Atlantic. In addition to weaker demand in Asia, Qatar exported 48.8mn m³ from January-March, a quarterly record, according to Vortexa data. Half of those volumes headed to northeast Asia. Qatar's oversupply also reduces some of the global demand for US LNG, which intensifies the surplus in the Atlantic. Also, European demand to refill stocks this year after the winter heating season might be counterbalanced by the EU's project that is likely to be approved to relax its year-end gas storage targets to 83pc from 90pc. Therefore, a large increase in demand is not expected there. The lack of demand in northeast Asia could cause Brazilian LNG imports, already on an upward trend last year thanks to increased product availability in global markets, to rise further. Brazil regasified 8.1mn m³/d of LNG in 2024, a more than fourfold hike from 1.5mn m³/d in 2023, according to the mines and energy ministry's data. Imports are expected to rise, according to consultancy Mirow, because Brazilian regasification capacity will grow to 147mn m³/d by 2032, from 97mn m³/d today, when new terminals start up. Also, small-scale LNG distributors in Brazil may get a boost in demand in the next two years as their on-road operations grow and become more efficient, reaching distances of up to 1,500km (930 miles). By Gabriel Tassi Lara Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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