Korea's Kogas seeks short-term, long-term LNG from 2025

South Korea's major importer Kogas is seeking short-term and long-term LNG through two separate tenders.

The firm is seeking at least 700,000 t/yr of LNG for delivery over 2025-27, through a tender that will close on 3 June. Offers can be linked to a northeast Asian spot LNG price, Brent or Henry Hub.

Kogas is also separately seeking 700,000 t/yr, 1.4mn t/yr or 2.1mn t/yr of LNG over a duration of 7-15 years, starting from 2027 or 2028. The firm is seeking offers on a fob or des basis, although it has specified a minimum vessel size of 135,000m³ for fob offers. Offers can be linked to either Brent or Henry Hub, and the deadline for submission is at 12am Korea time (3pm GMT) on 10 June.

The firm's latest long-term requirement comes on the heels of another long-term agreement that it signed with BP just last month, for up to 9.8mn t of LNG over 11 years from mid-2026.

This also comes after South Korea's trade, industry and energy ministry (Motie) announced on 2 May that Kogas will continue to seek new term import contracts for the super-chilled fuel, to stabilise prices and meet higher domestic gas demand.

The renewed focus on securing term supply has come at an interesting time with spot LNG prices in a downward trend since late last year, right in the middle of the winter season when prices typically peak. The front half-month of the ANEA — the Argus assessment for spot LNG deliveries to northeast Asia — was last assessed at $10.165/mn Btu on 10 May, a drop of 40pc since prices peaked on 23 October 2023.

More LNG importers are also seeking term volumes over 2025-27, which is widely deemed to be a period during which LNG supply could be tighter as it is just before the new US liquefaction capacity fully hits the market.

Higher nuclear availability in South Korea over the upcoming northern hemisphere summer season could weigh on LNG demand over the season. The country may also further trim its LNG use in the years to come, as it increases its reliance on nuclear power generation.

By Rou Urn Lee