--DES Northeast Asia

In Japan, many end-users secured high inventories in advance. An industry source said, "Japanese end-users tend to prefer selling if they do not need stocks rather than buying if they need." The source added, "The overall energy demand in Japan is shrinking. LNG demand will not grow unless an upturn in the economy boosts power demand." According to the Machinery Orders Statistics in August released by the Cabinet office on Thursday, the core private machinery orders excluding ships and electricity were Yen 89 billion, down 0.9% from the previous month, posting a month-on-month fall for a second straight month. Especially, the orders posted a significant drop in the general-purpose and production machinery sector and the chemical industry among manufactures as well as leasing and construction industries among non manufactures. It is expected to take time to recover to levels before the US executed additional tariffs, so that a slump in economic activities is likely to curb energy demand in the industrial sector.

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

India's state-owned GAIL picked up one cargo for Nov 21-23 delivery to the 5 mil mt/year Hajira terminal in the mid to high $10 level in a buy tender on a DES basis closed on Oct 15.

--FOB Atlantic, DES Europe and South America

Bulgarian state-run Bulgargaz had purchased a cargo for December delivery from Metlen Energy & Metals via its tender closed on Sep 23. Bulgargaz had bought an October delivery cargo as well from French TotalEnergies through this tender. Further, another buy tender closed on Oct 3 by Bulgargaz was also said to have been awarded. The company was seen to have bought a January delivery cargo from Metlen and a March delivery cargo from British Shell. These four cargoes in total that Bulgargaz secured were expected to be supplied from the US.