--DES Northeast Asia
Some players such as major independent energy companies in China and Korea moved on spot purchase while many Japanese power companies and Chinese state-owned companies were inactive in buying. Spot demand was therefore not necessarily strong. Guangdong Energy signed a short-term contract with Diamond Gas International (DGI) under the Mitsubishi group for a period of four years for four cargoes a year. Although the starting period was unclear, supply was likely to begin from the period January to March 2021 at the latest. DGI would supply from its portfolio. The price was seen to be at a discount to the DES Northeast Asia market. Guangdong Energy rented storage from China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) at the 6.70 mil mt/year Dapeng terminal and began importing LNG from 2019.

--FOB Middle East, DES South Asia and the Middle East
In the Middle East, ADNOC LNG in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was frequently conducting sell tenders and Oman LNG was apparently move to sell a cargo for Aug 27-28 delivery via private negotiations. On the other hand, Qatargas refrained from spot sales and focused on sending cargoes to terminals where it has usage rights such as the 15.40 mil mt/year South Hook terminal in Britain. ADNCO LNG closed a sell tender on Tuesday for one cargo loading Aug 10-20 from the Das Island project.

--FOB Atlantic, DES Europe and South America
The DES Europe market had strengthened briefly due to reduced shipments from the US but at present, prices fell to a discount of about 30cts to the TTF market in Northwest Europe and to flat to TTF even in areas such as Turkey where prices were relatively higher. In Europe, natural gas stocks in underground storages were extremely high. Although tanks were not full, it was difficult to buy LNG on a spot basis. Many players had difficulty taking spot cargoes until the peak demand winter season. As pipeline gas was also supplied smoothly, considering regasification costs, buyers would not purchase LNG at a premium to TTF.