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South Korean LNG carrier order backlog grows

  • : Natural gas
  • 20/03/17

The combined order books for South Korea's three major LNG shipbuilders has grown compared with a year earlier, despite slower order placement.

The increased backlogs against lower order numbers suggests slow deliveries over 2019, which could mean that two of the builders have a significant number of vessels set to come on to the water in the coming years, buoying vessel availability.

A total of 123 LNG carriers are on order with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), up from 104 a year earlier, according to builders' reports.

KSOE is facing the greatest rise of the three, with its undelivered orderbook rising to 54 vessels from 35. The firm incorporates three entities — Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD), and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI). HHI and HSHI's backlogs have both increased over the past year, while HMD — which has typically received orders for small-scale vessels in recent years — has an unchanged backlog.

But the total number of new LNG carrier orders placed with KSOE in 2019 fell to 24, from 25 in 2018, suggesting that deliveries were slow last year. This may mean that the firm has a significant number of vessels that are scheduled to come on the water in 2020-22. All of HSHI's 22-vessel backlog is scheduled for delivery in this period.

SHI's unfulfilled order book also rose through 2019, to 38 LNG carriers from 31, as orders rose marginally to 18 over the year from 17 in 2018, suggesting that the firm also has a significant number of vessels set to come on the water in the coming years.

But DSME's LNG carrier backlog fell in 2019, likely as a result of slower orders over the year and quick deliveries of the Yamal LNG project's Arc7 ice-class carriers. Its LNG order book fell to 31 vessels from 38. DSME received 10 vessel orders in 2019, down from 18 a year earlier. And DSME delivered six Yamal Arc7 carriers to their owners in 2019, suggesting that it made around 11 other LNG carrier deliveries over the period.

A number of shipowners have voiced concerns in recent months about an impending vessel surplus in the global LNG freight market, spurring them to change tack and attempt to tie more of their respective fleets to term charters.

And future vessel deliveries are set to be more competitive with much of the existing LNG carrier fleet. Most of the global order book is for larger, more efficient two-stroke propulsion carriers, with either partial or full reliquefaction, which may be more attractive to charterers seeking spot or term agreements.

South Korean shipyards have historically provided most of the global LNG freight market's tonnage, but China's Hudong shipyard has also significantly increased its annual capacity in recent years, which is set to further support newbuild supply.


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24/11/07

German energy-intensive industry reduces output

German energy-intensive industry reduces output

London, 7 November (Argus) — Production from Germany's energy-intensive industrial sectors was lower in September than a year earlier for the first time in seven months, driven by lower generation from the chemicals sector. Energy-intensive industrial production fell by about 3.3pc in September from August, according to data from German statistical office Destatis ( see data and download ). This was driven largely by a 4.3pc fall in output from the chemicals industry. And overall industrial output was about 1.8pc lower than in September 2023, falling year on year for the first time since February this year. The chemicals industry has warned of lower business confidence in the sector since the summer . Energy-intensive industrial branches previously showed signs of a slow recovery, but general manufacturing output across Germany has been on a consistent downward trajectory in recent months ( see manufacturing index graph ). Manufacturing output across all industrial sectors fell on the month by about 2.5pc, having risen on the month by 2.6pc in August. Third-quarter output as a whole was about 2pc lower than in the second quarter. Industrial economic activity has remained "very weak" recently, German economy and climate ministry BMWK said. But it expects a bottom to form in about the new year. BMWK has predicted that Germany will be in a technical recession in 2024 , before a return to 1.1pc GDP growth in 2025. The German economy started on a downward trajectory in 2022 , triggered by higher energy prices on the back of a halt to Russian gas deliveries to the country. And it has since been hampered by other structural factors such as labour shortages and a high bureaucratic burden. Higher gas prices could drive output lower A steady rise in gas prices in recent months could lead industrial firms to curtail domestic industrial production or use LPG instead of gas for some industrial processes. Argus assessed the German THE everyday price at an average of €40.68/MWh in October, about 56pc higher than the €25.98/MWh in February, the index's lowest point this year. Much higher gas prices since 2022 have driven a drop in Germany's industrial gas demand. Gas use in German industry of 256.5TWh in 2023 was about 22pc lower than the pre-crisis 2018-21 average of 327.6TWh, according to Destatis data released earlier this week ( see sector demand graph ). Firms either curtailed production in reaction to higher prices or switched to LPG in some processes in which gas is used as an energy carrier. But some processes, such as the production of ammonia through the Haber-Bosch-synthesis, use methane as a feedstock, which means they cannot shift to LPG as easily. Gas used as a feedstock reacted more strongly to the energy crisis than the gas used for energy. Gas use as a feedstock in the chemicals industry fell by 36pc in 2023 from 2021, while gas use for energy fell by only a quarter. Many fertiliser producers curtailed capacity in 2023, and Europe's largest fertiliser producer, Yara, expects its European gas costs to rise on the year this winter . The producer has already indicated it will shift its focus towards cheaper ammonia production in the US and away from Europe. Industrial gas use on track to rise in 2024 German industrial gas demand is on course to be higher this year than in 2023, based on daily data ending at the end of October. Industrial gas use for production processes other than space heating was 746 GWh/d in January-October, about 8pc higher than a year earlier, according to Argus estimates. But if September's industrial output drops extend to a multi-month trend, this would pull down the average for this year as a whole. Industrial demand typically falls in December when the holiday period limits economic activity, which could push down the average further. And the collapsed German governing coalition is unlikely to send strong recovery signals to the German economy. German market area manager THE publishes a combined dataset for gas demand by industry and the power sector. Argus splits out power-sector gas demand data by assuming operational efficiencies of 39-42pc, in line with fuel use data from Destatis, and factors out seasonal demand swings linked to space heating by looking at analogue trends in the residential and commercial sector ( see demand split graph ). Argus' estimates diverge from Destatis' annual demand data by only about 1-3pc, except for a 6pc gap in 2021 ( see Destatis vs Argus estimates graph ). By Till Stehr German manufacturing index index, 2021=100 German industrial gas demand by sector TWh German industry and power demand split GWh/d Destatis data vs Argus estimates GWh/d Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

German government collapse could delay energy policies


24/11/07
24/11/07

German government collapse could delay energy policies

London, 7 November (Argus) — The collapse of the German coalition government may delay critical energy security policies currently under discussion, with industry and power associations expressing concerns about potential political standstill on such issues in the coming months. Asked in Berlin on Thursday, energy minister Robert Habeck said he does not expect a general agreement between the remaining red-green government and the conservative Union, which would ensure all further projects in this parliamentary period. And "it remains to be seen" if some decisions could be made together with the opposition on a case-by-case basis where the interests of government and CDU align, Habeck said, although energy security could be one topic where bills could be passed during the minority government phase before the end of this year. CDU politicians including on the state level had "constantly" written him letters to ask when some laws would "finally" be passed, he said, highlighting that while he does not expect "a great deal of helpfulness" he hopes the opposition will work with the government on the basis of how beneficial planning security would be for Germany as a whole. Among the energy security laws waiting to be passed is the draft law that abolishes the German gas storage levy on cross-border interconnection points , while the government has not yet passed its power plant strategy nor submitted the second of its two planned "solar packages". Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday said that among the legislative projects he was trying to pass before the end of the year were "immediate measures for our industry" on which he was currently deliberating with "companies, unions and associations". He said he would quickly try to begin speaking to opposition leader Friedrich Merz around the questions of defence and economic stability, since the economic stabilisation "cannot wait until elections have taken place". The coalition government collapsed after Scholz sacked finance minister Christian Linder , leading the latter to withdraw his party from the ruling coalition. An election looks likely in early 2025. Industry and renewables associations in particular voiced concerns about the timing of the collapse and potential political stagnation, with general leader of chemicals association VCI calling for elections at "the earliest possible time" to avoid "stalemate and political standstill", while the federation of German industries BDI said the country needs a "new, effective government" with a parliamentary majority "as quickly as possible". VCI stressed that Germany needs low energy prices, faster permitting and less bureaucracy, while BDI highlighted that existing market uncertainty is likely to rise with the arrival of the new US administration at the beginning of 2025, when Scholz plans to hold a vote of confidence. And wind association BWE stated that the country "cannot afford to stand still", while solar power association BSW appealed to members of the Bundestag to "make decisions and compromise" on important energy policy issues across party lines. Renewables association BEE called for laws and budget funds already in process for the continuity of energy measures to be adopted by December, stating that "even in a political crisis" the country "cannot afford" stagnation and stalemates. Conservative opposition sister parties CDU and CSU have been polling well ahead across 2024 at around 30-33pc of the vote. While the parties agree with the ruling coalition on several aspects of energy policy — including supporting hydrogen-fired and climate-neutral gas-fired generation — they notably diverge on the topic of nuclear generation. Germany completed its long-awaited nuclear phase-out in April 2023, but the CDU/CSU this week announced it would conduct an investigation into whether the last plants to be decommissioned could feasibly be reactivated. The CDU/CSU also reiterated its support for the development of fourth and fifth-generation nuclear reactors. Nuclear plants are notorious for lengthy construction times, meaning a single parliamentary term may not be enough to see projects through without cross-party support, and the ruling Greens and SPD remain anti-nuclear. The country has also not yet decided on a final storage location for its existing nuclear waste, which will need to be stored there for "one million years", according to the final report from the commission for the storage of highly radioactive waste. But the CDU and SPD have both voiced support for the introduction of a national green gas sales quota , with the CDU/CSU this week highlighting green gas quotas in the gas grid as a way to leverage the market to reach climate goals. By Till Stehr and Helen Senior Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Europe gas market shows muted reaction to US Trump win


24/11/06
24/11/06

Europe gas market shows muted reaction to US Trump win

London, 6 November (Argus) — The European gas market showed only a limited downward reaction this morning to the US election result, and while some market participants expect a second Donald Trump presidency to ease geopolitical tensions, others see the potential for destabilising effects in the medium term. While vote counting was still ongoing at the time of publication and vice-president Kamala Harris has yet to concede defeat, the Associated Press and major US television networks have concluded that Trump secured enough votes in the Electoral College to win the presidency. European gas prices fell during morning trading, despite the US dollar strengthening by about two basis points against the euro. European gas prices typically move higher in euro terms when the US dollar strengthens to offset the higher cost of dollar-denominated LNG supply. Some market participants attributed the small price fall during morning trading to the expectation that a second Trump administration would seek de-escalation on several geopolitical fronts — such as in Ukraine and the Middle East — which, they say, had supported gas prices in recent weeks. But European gas prices reversed their limited gains by the 16:30 GMT market close. And the European gas price reaction was notably muted relative to the considerable volatility of less than a week ago when a media report had raised the prospect of an imminent deal between European buyers and Azerbaijan for gas transit through Ukraine. These European buyers later denied that a contract would soon be signed . Few market participants foresee a material effect on the gas market stemming from the US election result. "The impact is too vague to really price in," a trading firm said. "Given the tight global supply-demand balance, any setback will be short-lived," another market participant said. The result may fuel speculation that the war between Russia and Ukraine could come to an end sooner, but with the new president set to take office in late January, the change in presidency will have no effect on the possibility of reaching a deal that would allow Russian gas flows through Ukraine to continue beyond the expiry of the transit contract and interconnection agreements between the two countries at the end of this year. If a normalisation of relations with Russia leads a Trump administration to unblock sanctions preventing the use of the Novatek-led 19.8mn t/yr Arctic LNG 2 export terminal, this might bring more LNG supply to the market in 2025 than previously envisaged. Looking further ahead, Trump's pledge to reverse incumbent president Joe Biden administration's LNG licensing pause and speed up the approval of new liquefaction projects may have boosted expectations of global LNG supply towards the end of this decade. But other market participants expressed concern about a potential threat to US LNG exports to Europe in the medium term if the new administration opts not to co-operate with the EU on establishing a framework for monitoring, reporting and verifying methane emissions, which may hamper US-EU LNG trade flows once the EU methane emissions regulation is fully implemented. This, coupled with a "drill, baby, drill" policy in the US domestic market, may lead to a deeper gulf between the two markets, some said. Trump's pledge to impose tariffs on imports into the US, particularly against China, may trigger the risk of retaliation that could affect LNG flows from existing facilities — as was the case in 2019, when deliveries of US LNG to China fell to zero as a result of the trade war between the two countries, before rebounding sharply in 2021 after the two countries agreed on a preliminary trade deal. Only one Chinese buyer had US offtake at the time, but many more subsequently signed on for US LNG, totalling about 22mn t/yr from existing and planned liquefaction projects. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Q&A: French state auction for biomethane RGGOs


24/11/06
24/11/06

Q&A: French state auction for biomethane RGGOs

London, 6 November (Argus) — France's first auction for state-owned biomethane renewable gas guarantees of origin (RGGOs) is due to take place on 4 December. It will be run by European Energy Exchange (EEX), which also manages the French biogas registry. Argus spoke to Aude Filippi, director of business development gas and sustainability markets at EEX, about biomethane RGGOs in France and the new auctions. Edited highlights follow: How are RGGOs currently traded in France? All RGGOs for biomethane injected into the French gas grid are currently exchanged via the over-the-counter (OTC) market, and the transfer of ownership is done via the French biogas registry. The RGGOs are tradeable for 12 months and usable for 18 months, and are issued in monthly intervals. The market has been growing quite significantly. Between January and September 2024, 8.5TWh of RGGOs were issued and 7.2TWh cancelled, while in 2023 there were 9.6TWh issued. Almost all of the issued RGGOs are cancelled, with very few expiring after 18 months. Why are the biomethane RGGO auctions being launched now? The French state owns all the RGGOs from biomethane produced from subsidised plants where the contract was signed after 9 November 2020, and now the French state wants to sell them. Even though the contracts were signed in 2020, it takes time to put biomethane into production, so very few of the RGGOs have expired so far. But the volume being produced is growing so it is important that we now have the auctions. What size volumes are you expecting to be in the new biomethane GOO auctions? We expect over 80,000MWh in the first upcoming auction, with volumes likely to increase in the following sessions. What buyers are you expecting to participate in the auctions? Essentially it will be the members of the French biogas registry that we have connected today. And some members connected to the French power GOO auctions at EEX might participate, so we expect that it will be a similar target group, but for gas. Will buyers be able to export the biomethane GOOs for use in other countries? Today we are not yet connected to a hub for the international trade of RGGOs. At the moment, we are working with the hubs to get connected. Why do the auctions have a mechanism for certain buyers to reserve volumes in the auction? The idea is that the operator of a production device will have the ability to buy the RGGOs produced from this particular device from the French state. They are then committing for one year at least to buy these RGGOs at the auction price plus a 30pc premium. By Emma Tribe Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump nears victory in US election: Update 3


24/11/06
24/11/06

Trump nears victory in US election: Update 3

Updates throughout with latest election results, market reaction Washington, 6 November (Argus) — Former president Donald Trump appears to be closing in on victory in the US election, after winning several key swing states. Trump, the Republican nominee, was declared the victor in Georgia and North Carolina shortly after midnight ET on election night, according to the Associated Press. Trump has also won the key state of Pennsylvania, several US networks said. Trump was leading vice president Kamala Harris in all four other key swing states — Wisconsin and Arizona, Michigan and Nevada — based on partial results as of 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT) on 6 November. The seven swing states will decide which candidate reaches the threshold of 270 electoral votes needed to win the election. Trump had secured 248 electoral votes as 02:00 ET, with Harris at 214. Victory in Pennsylvania, if confirmed, would give Trump 267 votes and all-but end Harris' chances of victory. The prospect of Trump's re-election sent Brent crude futures down by as much as 2.5pc to a low of $73.64/bl, largely reflecting gains in the US dollar. A strong dollar tends to weigh on prices of commodities by making purchases more expensive for buyers using other currencies. Trump has promised to pursue a radical shift for the US on policies related to energy, taxes, trade and foreign affairs — reversing many of the policies and legislation that Democrats have put in place under President Joe Biden. On energy policy, Trump said he wants oil and gas producers to "drill, baby, drill" to bring down domestic energy prices and to dismantle many of the regulations and climate policies put in place by Biden, which Trump dubbed the "Green New Scam". Trump said he would immediately lift a "pause" on licensing new LNG export terminals and restart oil development in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Trump wants to impose a 20pc tariff on all foreign imports and even higher tariffs on China. The next president faces decisions on the future of US support for Ukraine and related restrictions on Russian energy exports, enforcing US sanctions against Iran and Venezuela and how to contain the growing threat of an Israel-Iran war and its potential impacts on oil flows from the Middle East. Republicans also took control of the US Senate for the first time in four years. In the US House of Representatives, too many races are undecided for major networks to project control. In 2025, the US Congress is poised for a major fight on tax policy because of the year-end expiration of an estimated $4 trillion in tax cuts. By Chris Knight, Haik Gugarats and Kevin Foster Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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