日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily May 28, 2026 (Thu)

LNG Shipping Paradox: Modern Fleet Holds Robust $87k/Day Rates on Cargo Optimization Despite Vessel Glut

Spot rates for modern vessels stay above $80,000

　The LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier market has been hit by an unprecedented supply shock, resul ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80The+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+carrier+market+has+been+hit+by+an+unprecedented+supply+shock%2C+resulting+in+a+growing+sense+of+excess+tonnage.+However%2C+charter+rates+for+modern+vessels+have+remained+above+average+costs.+The+charter+market+appears+to+be+supported+by+the+fact+that+%E2%80%9Cmaximizing+cargo+profits+is+prioritized+over+the+efficient+operation+of+vessels%E2%80%9C+%28market+participants%29.+The+timing+for+LNG+carrier+supply+and+demand+to+come+into+balance+is+expected+to+be+pushed+back+due+to+damage+to+Qatar%E2%80%99s+LNG+production+facilities%2C+but+charter+market+conditions+for+modern+LNG+carriers+may+remain+firm.+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80According+to+Clarksons+Research%2C+spot+charter+rates+for+a+new+LNG+carrier+with+a+174%2C000-cubic-meter+capacity+and+a+two-stroke+engine+stood+at+%2487%2C500+per+day+as+of+May+22.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Spot+charter+rates+for+modern+LNG+carriers+at+one+point+surged+into+the+%24300%2C000+range+after+military+conflict+between+the+United+States+and+Iran+broke+out.+The+surge+was+temporary%2C+but+rates+are+still+well+above+about+%2430%2C000%2C+less+than+half+the+pre-conflict+breakeven+level.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Felix+Booth%2C+head+of+LNG+and+natural+gas+at+UK+energy+market+analysis+firm+Vortexa%2C+said+in+a+webinar+hosted+by+the+company%2C+%E2%80%9CThe+LNG+market+is+in+the+midst+of+an+unprecedented+supply+shock.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Global+LNG+trade+totals+about+400+million+tons+a+year.+However%2C+the+effective+closure+of+the+Strait+of+Hormuz+following+the+conflict+between+the+United+States+and+Iran+cut+off+supplies+of+80+million+tons+of+Middle+Eastern+LNG%2C+equivalent+to+20%25+of+overall+trade+volume.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80LNG+carriers+engaged+in+transporting+cargoes+loaded+in+the+Middle+East+were+forced+to+suspend+operations.+As+a+result%2C+the+surplus+of+LNG+carriers+that+had+persisted+since+before+the+conflict+was+further+exacerbated.+About+50+controlled+vessels+of+Qatari+LNG+suppliers+are+said+to+have+been+forced+to+remain+idle.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Normally%2C+charter+rates+fall+when+vessels+become+oversupplied+and+supply-demand+conditions+loosen.+However%2C+this+time%2C+charter+rates+for+modern+vessels+have+remained+at+healthy+levels.+The+reason+is+believed+to+be+that+cargo+optimization+has+come+to+take+priority+over+the+efficient+operation+of+vessels.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+LNG+supply+shock+also+drove+LNG+prices+sharply+higher.+Premium+prices+are+sometimes+commanded%2C+particularly+in+Asia%2C+where+the+impact+of+the+supply+shock+is+especially+significant.+Traders+keep+LNG+carriers+on+hand+so+as+not+to+miss+those+lucrative+opportunities.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CPortfolio+players+are+rediscovering+the+importance+of+keeping+ships+readily+available+in+preparation+for+unforeseen+events%2C%E2%80%9C+a+market+source+said.+As+a+result%2C+the+number+of+modern+LNG+carriers+available+on+the+charter+market+has+been+limited%2C+pushing+up+charter+rates.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Meanwhile%2C+the+charter+market+for+aging+LNG+carriers+equipped+with+older+steam+turbines+has+remained+sluggish.+Amid+a+continuing+structural+oversupply+of+tonnage%2C+more+aging+vessels+with+inferior+fuel+efficiency+are+going+without+charterers+and+being+converted+or+scrapped.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Booth+said%2C+%E2%80%9CThe+decline+in+demand+for+older+vessels+is+particularly+noticeable+in+the+Atlantic.+The+generational+shift+in+LNG+carriers+could+accelerate.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+continuing+oversupply+in+the+LNG+carrier+market+is+mainly+due+to+the+fact+that+while+newbuilds+are+being+completed+on+schedule%2C+the+startup+of+new+LNG+projects+has+been+delayed%2C+postponing+the+emergence+of+transport+demand.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Before+the+US-Iran+conflict%2C+demand+was+expected+to+catch+up+with+supply+around+2026-27.+It+is+now+seen+as+possible+that+the+oversupply+could+continue+until+2027%2C+as+restoring+Qatar%E2%80%99s+LNG+production+facilities+will+take+time+and+delays+in+expansion+projects+are+unavoidable.+After+that%2C+some+believe+the+market+could+instead+swing+to+a+vessel+shortage+as+transport+demand+rises+with+the+startup+of+new+LNG+projects.+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82%3Cbr%3E

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