Business Sectors
Events
Floating energy: successfully unlocking stranded gas using FLNGs and FSRUs
24 Feb 2026
GMT - ONLINEContents
Register to read more articles.
LNG spot rates ease as activity thins
Clarksons and Braemar tracked softer early-January LNG carrier spot earnings, while new orders pointed to long charter cover and large-capacity ships
The LNG carrier spot market softened in early January, with both Clarksons and Braemar describing thinner post-holiday fixing activity and weaker earnings benchmarks.
On the plus side, the first LNG from the USA arrived at the Alexandroupolis FSRU, destined for the Bulgarian market.
Clarksons noted the LNG shipping market “softened again this week in both basins”, adding that average spot earnings for a modern 174,000-m³, two-stroke LNG carrier “fell by 27% week-on-week to US$61,000 per day”.
In its weekly note, Braemar said the market “shows signs of moderate activity across both basins post-Christmas”, while adding, “Atlantic requirements are still lingering for February laycans”.
Clarksons characterised trading in the Atlantic as “an exceptionally quiet week in the West”, while reporting “a modest pick up in activity in the East”.
On published benchmarks dated 2 January 2026, Clarksons indicated US$61,000 per day for a 174,000-m³, two-stroke LNG carrier, US$46,000 per day for a 160,000-m³ tri-fuel diesel-electric (TFDE) ship, and US$15,500 per day for a 145,000-m³ steam turbine vessel.
In its market comment, Braemar said, “Fixtures West have been concluded in the US$70,000s per day region this week”, while adding, “Rates have come off further in the Pacific this week” with “virtually no requirements in the first half of January.”
Braemar also pointed to “renewed activity” in newbuildings, reporting a “major European LNG player ordered a trio of LNG carriers from a South Korean shipyard for total value of US$770M.”
Separate newbuilding data from BRL listed seven new LNG carrier orders for Knutsen OAS Shipping, each at 174,000 m³, with delivery shown as March 2027.
BRL noted a “15-year charter to Edison”, while other entries referred to “long-term charter” cover involving Equinor, and separate entries naming Eni or SEFE.
BRL also listed two LNG carrier orders for Seapeak Maritime Canada with delivery shown as May 2028, with notes stating “174,000 m3. Size not confirmed.”
The arrival of US-sourced LNG in Greece:
Related to this Story
Events
Maritime Regulations Webinar Week
16 Dec 2025GMT - ONLINEFloating energy: successfully unlocking stranded gas using FLNGs and FSRUs
24 Feb 2026GMT - ONLINE
© 2024 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.
