Buying and selling on the up
Increased spot and short-term LNG trading and sharp price moves have encouraged the global growth of derivatives trading and hub activity
Price reporting services over the past year have witnessed increased interest in the use of indices to price liquefied natural gas in the Asia-Pacific region, which dominates world LNG consumption. S&P Platts says swap volumes linked to its Japan Korea Marker (JKM) price index continue to rise. It recently reported that the volume of LNG swaps cleared on the Intercontinental and Chicago Mercantile Exchanges hit a new monthly record in April, at 17,181 lots, up 57% from 10,830 lots in March. JKM swap-trading volumes quadrupled in 2017 from 2016. Market participants hesitate to conclude from rising derivatives volumes that the Asia-Pacific financial LNG market is ready to stand unaided, no
Also in this section
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
1 December 2025
The North African producer’s first bidding round in almost two decades is an important milestone but the recent extension suggests a degree of trepidation
