LNG Shippers Happy With Cheaper Than Expected Tolls at Panama Canal

摘要

The Panama Canal Authority has unveiled the proposed tolling rates for LNG tankers using the waterway once a major expansion is completed next year. Potential shippers have been eagerly awaiting the proposals to get a better idea of the economics of shipping LNG to Asia from the US Gulf Coast, where a number of liquefaction plants are due on line beginning late this year. Initial reaction is largely positive. An Asian buyer that has contracted to take US LNG says it is "quite pleased" with the proposed rates, estimating they would add less than $2 per million Btu for a 174,000 cubic meter tanker on a round trip, lower than its forecast of around $2.50/ MMBtu. Debbie Turner, senior shipping advisor at ship-broking group SSY Gas, also says the tolls are slightly lower than the market anticipated.