Russia delivers record gas volumes to Europe
Russia delivered a record amount of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe in February, becoming the biggest supplier of the chilled fuel to the continent for the first time.
A total of 19 cargoes, or 1.41million tons, of LNG from the Yamal LNG plant in Russia’s Arctic reached regasification terminals in Europe in February, with most of those going to northwest Europe, Refinitiv Eikon data shows.
This is the largest monthly amount of LNG from Yamal to arrive in Europe since the plant was launched in December 2017 and the first time Russia has become the biggest LNG supplier to Europe, surpassing traditional suppliers such as Qatar, Nigeria and Algeria, as well as a newcomer, the US.
The jump in Russia’s deliveries to Europe shows how lower-than-expected LNG demand and lower prices in Asia have made Europe a top destination for LNG produced in the Atlantic basin this winter, a drastic change from the previous winter.
None of the Yamal cargoes found a home in Asia in February, for the first time since May, data showed.
Asian LNG and European gas prices have been almost at parity this winter.
This week, the Asian LNG delivery price was about $0.30 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) above the UK frontmonth gas price, against more than a $2.00/mmBtu premium a year ago.
Russia’s Novatek, a major shareholder at Yamal, has arranged a swap of some cargoes this winter to supply its Asian positions with Pacificsourced LNG instead of delivering cargoes from Yamal, to reduce shipping costs amid the low price spread. Some traders expect the price spread will remain tight throughout 2019, with Atlantic-produced cargoes continuing to come to Europe.
Novatek and China’s PetroChina, another Yamal offtaker, have been active selling spot Yamal cargoes to Europe this winter.
The data also highlights how the low cost of Russian LNG allows it to compete for European buyers.
On Wednesday, Novatek CFO Mark Gyetvay told the IP Week conference in London that Novatek is able to deliver LNG to Europe at $3.15/mmBtu.
In February, shipments from the US to Europe dropped to nine cargoes, or 0.64-million tons, the lowest level since November, largely due to lower loadings in the US caused by maintenance and fog conditions at Gulf of Mexico plants. US exports dropped to the lowest level since October in February.
This is a change from January, when the US was the second-largest supplier of LNG to Europe after Qatar.
Supplies from Qatar have been stable at 17-19 cargoes per month since October. In February, 18 cargoes, or 1.33-million tons, were delivered to Europe, which is five cargoes more than in the same month a year ago.
Nigeria delivered 16 cargoes in February, against 18 in January. Algeria supplied 18 cargoes to Europe in February, one cargo fewer than in January.
THE DATA ALSO HIGHLIGHTS HOW THE LOW COST OF RUSSIAN LNG ALLOWS IT TO COMPETE FOR EUROPEAN BUYERS