Qatar-Italy route sees ‘most common’ LNG trade voyage to Europe in 2021: IGU

Qatar-Italy route sees ‘most common’ LNG trade voyage to Europe in 2021: IGU

Most common LNG trade voyage to Europe last year was from Qatar to Italy with 76 shipments, according to International Gas Union.

More than 70% of LNG volumes imported by Europe during 2021 were supplied by Qatar, US and Russia, IGU said in its ‘World LNG Report 2022’.

With additional liquefaction capacity, 2021 was characterised by a resumption of growth in the number of voyages and vessel utilisation, after Covid-19 demand reduction in 2020, IGU noted.

A total of 6,708 LNG trade voyages departed in 2021, up 12% from 2020, which in contrast saw little growth from the previous year. Global growth in LNG trade voyages is in line with growth in liquefaction capacity, alongside growing competition between Asia and Europe as LNG demand centres.

The number of LNG trade voyages both to Europe and Asia has trended upwards since 2015, with growing year-on-year liquefaction and vessel deliveries. The Panama Canal was widened and deepened in 2016, allowing for more transits, IGU said.

The resulting voyage distance and time from the United States’ Sabine Pass terminal to Japan’s Kawasaki LNG site was reduced to 9,400 nautical miles (nm) and 29 days through the Panama Canal, compared to 14,500nm and 45 days through the