需求萎缩 美国LNG出口下降

需求萎缩 美国LNG出口下降

中国石化新闻网讯 据天然气加工网站5月26日消息 自从美国政府开始实施封锁以阻止冠状病毒的传播以来，美国液化天然气出口量下降了三分之一以上。

尽管强劲的可再生能源产出增加了供应，但由于能源紧缺，能源需求受到挤压，全球天然气价格暴跌。美国现在的天然气价格十年来首次高于欧洲。

亚洲和欧洲的买家已经取消了6月和7月超过20批美国液化天然气货物，预计还会有更多的货物被取消。

根据Refinitiv的数据，美国液化天然气出口工厂的天然气流量从3月下旬的创纪录的95亿立方英尺/天下降到本周的5.6亿立方英尺/天的六个月低点，但这一水平仍将超过去年创纪录的5亿立方英尺/天平均水平。

IHS Markit执行董事特雷尔?本克表示：“美国液化天然气产能利用率已开始下降，以应对COVID-19加剧的市场力量。”

联邦数据显示，1月份，运载美国液化天然气的船只数量达到最高点74艘，但Refinitiv数据显示，4月份美国液化天然气运输船数量降至62艘，5月份有望降至8个月低点50艘。

吴恒磊 编译自 天然气加工

原文如下：

U.S. LNG exports drop as pandemic shrinks demand

U.S. liquefied natural gas exports are down by more than a third since governments started imposing lockdowns to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Worldwide gas prices have plunged as lockdowns squeezed energy demand even as strong renewables output boosted supply. Gas prices are more expensive now in the United States than in Europe for the first time in a decade.

Buyers in Asia and Europe have already canceled over 20 U.S. LNG cargoes for June and July, and more cancellations are anticipated.

Gas flows to U.S. LNG export plants fell from a record 9.5 billion cubic feet per day in late March to a six-month low of 5.6 bcfd this week, according to Refinitiv. That level would still top the record 5.0-bcfd average set last year.

“U.S. LNG capacity utilization has begun a turndown in response to market forces exacerbated by COVID-19,” said Terrell Benke, executive director at IHS Markit.

The number of vessels carrying U.S. LNG peaked at 74 in January, according to federal data. But Refinitiv data said the number of vessels carrying U.S. LNG fell to 62 in April and was on track to drop to an eight-month low of 50 in May.