Europe did not notice the "loss" of Russian LNG: gas carriers go one by one

After the introduction at the end of April of a ban on the import of Russian LNG under short-term contracts for the supply of Yamal liquefied natural gas to countries The EU continues. And this is happening at an accelerated pace.

Deliveries of Russian LNG to the countries The EU continues at an accelerated pace. Since April 25, when the ban on LNG imports from 9 shipments of liquefied natural gas from the Yamal LNG project were delivered to Russia under short-term contracts to the European Union.

According to AIS vessels, since April 26, 8 gas carriers have entered France, Spain and Belgium, which could deliver up to 800 million cubic meters of gas in the form of LNG. Also today, the tanker Boris Vilkitsky approached the coast of France. Thus, 10 days of delivery can grow to 9 batches.

The pace of deliveries is not inferior to what it was in January-April before the ban, when all Yamal LNG went to the EU countries — more than 20 shipments per month.

Since the ban on deliveries under short-term contracts has entered into force, exports to countries The EU should lose a third of the volume. However, it may not decrease in the coming months, as long-term customers may be able to select volumes in advance.

Preservation of Russian supplies to the countries The EU supported the high level of LNG imports to the European Union. During the 10 days of the ban, the level of gas shipments from LNG terminals to the EU amounted to 414 million cubic meters per day, according to GIE. This is fully equivalent to imports in April.

At the same time, part of the Yamal LNG still began to leave. Two gas carriers Clean Planet and Wen Cheng are definitely heading to China. However, such logistics was built near Murmansk using conventional gas carriers that Yamal LNG managed to reach a higher level of supplies.

The EU continues to be a premium market. On May 5, the cost of supplies for a month ahead on the TTF exchange is $ 581 per thousand cubic meters — almost 50% more expensive than before the start of the Iranian war.

This year the countries The EU has completed the heating season with lower reserves and, as reported by EADaily, is slowly pumping gas into storage facilities, while maintaining a high level of LNG imports. This situation is due to the fact that prices for the next winter do not exceed the current ones and it is simply unprofitable for traders to stock up on gas.