Japan and South Korea would appear well-supplied for LNG this winter
Japan and South Korea prepare for crucial winter
Nuclear availability and the extent of low temperatures will decide how much LNG they will need for the months ahead
Japan and South Korea have been stocking up on LNG as Asia’s second- and third-largest gas markets look to avoid a winter supply crunch. But their respective appetites for additional volumes in coming months will likely be determined by the availability of nuclear power and the degree of cold weather. Jera and Kogas, the biggest importers in Japan and South Korea respectively, along with other major buyers such as Kansai Electric and SK E&S were active in the Asian spot market up until the end of August, in a sign the JKM’s rise to a historically high $60-70/mn Btu did not price Asian importers out of the ultra-expensive market. But relatively robust procurement from Northeast Asian impo
Also in this section
20 February 2026
The country is pushing to increase production and expand key projects despite challenges including OPEC+ discipline and the limitations of its export infrastructure
20 February 2026
Europe has transformed into a global LNG demand powerhouse over the last few years, with the fuel continuing to play a key role in safeguarding the continent’s energy security, Carsten Poppinga, chief commercial officer at Uniper, tells Petroleum Economist
20 February 2026
Sempra Infrastructure’s vice president for marketing and commercial development, Carlos de la Vega, outlines progress across the company’s US Gulf Coast and Mexico Pacific Coast LNG portfolio, including construction at Port Arthur LNG, continued strong performance at Cameron LNG and development of ECA LNG
19 February 2026
US LNG exporter Cheniere Energy has grown its business rapidly since exporting its first cargo a decade ago. But Chief Commercial Officer Anatol Feygin tells Petroleum Economist that, as in the past, the company’s future expansion plans are anchored by high levels of contracted offtake, supporting predictable returns on investment
