--DES Northeast Asia

　Several Japanese utility companies moved on spot purchase for stock replenishment. As the rainy season throughout Japan ended earlier than previous years, power demand in July was gradually rising and some companies advanced their buying. Hokkaido Gas purchased a spot cargo for September delivery in mid-July although the price was unknown. Hokkaido Electric Power was also said to have procured a spot cargo in mid-July for end-August delivery. In addition, Hokuriku Electric Power might buy a spot cargo for end-August to September delivery and this attracted interest from traders. As reported, Hokuriku Electric Power shut down the 700MW No.2 unit at its Tsuruga coal power plant from Jul 15 due to facility troubles and depending on when the unit would restart, the company might purchase LNG as an alternative.

--FOB Middle East, DES South Asia, South east Asia and the Middle East

　From the Middle East, shipments from the 1.50 mil mt/year Damietta terminal operated by Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) rose from the beginning of the year. Since 2012, shipments had been halted but since the start of this year, one to four cargoes per month had been shipped. On Tuesday, the 173,400cbm MEGI tanker "British Achiever" owned by Britain's BP was scheduled to load a cargo. Shipments from Egypt doubled from last year with five or more cargoes a month being supplied from the 7.20 mil mt/year Idku terminal. Since 2014, EGAS had been supplying domestically produced gas to the domestic market to meet gas demand within the country but along with full-fledged production from the Zohr gas field in Egypt and the Leviathan gas field in Israel, EGAS apparently had more room to export domestic gas in the form of LNG.

--FOB Atlantic, DES Europe and South America

　Turkish state-owned Botas closed a buy tender on 21st July for a total of 15 cargoes for August to December delivery. Subsequently, it was heard that Botas was looking for three cargoes per month, one early in the month, one in the middle of the month and one late in the month although specific delivery dates were unclear. Botas requested sellers to offer at fixed prices or based on the US Henry Hub market.