LNG

The LNG spot market remained under pressure this week, with rates continuing to fall. Limited fresh enquiry and prompt vessel availability allowed charterers to keep pushing levels down, reinforcing the softer sentiment.

On the BLNG1 Australia–Japan route, 174k cbm vessels slipped by $1,000 to $30,600/day. The East continues to show greater resilience compared to the Atlantic basin. Tighter regional tonnage availability and steady enquiry is helping limit downside.

The BLNG2 US Gulf–Continent route weakened further, with 174k cbm earnings falling $3,600 to $10,400/day. Similarly, the BLNG3 US Gulf–Japan route declined $3,500 to $13,900/day. Driven by a surplus of open ships and thin cargo flow weighing on fixing levels.

In the timecharter market, six month and one-year saw similar drops. The six-month rate dropped $2,250 to $27,250/day, while the one-year term eased $2,125 to $38,125/day. In contrast, the three-year period firmed $2,000 to $59,500/day.

LPG

The LPG market surged this week, driven by firmer sentiment in the West where a flurry of fresh cargoes drove fixing activity. The tightening Atlantic position list provided strong upward momentum, while the East, although quieter, was pulled higher in accordance with the gains seen in the West.

On the BLPG1 Ras Tanura–Chiba route, rates climbed $7.92 to $85.33/mt, with TCE earnings rising $8,262 to $74,023/day. Despite comparatively lighter enquiry in the East, improving sentiment and stronger western economics helped lift levels through the week.

The BLPG2 Houston–Flushing route saw solid gains, increasing $10.00 to $83.25/mt, while daily returns increased $14,048 to $88,059/day.

The BLPG3 Houston–Chiba route posted the largest jump of the week, surging $24.33 to $153.83/mt, with TCE earnings up $18,760 to $79,572/day. A busy Atlantic market, a strong arb and tightened vessel availability underpinned the gains.