Global LNG shipping – orders and deliveries

Spot/short-term charter rates for LNG vessels have been in free-fall so far in 2019, dropping from a record high of US$200,000/day in November 2018 to US$40,000/day in mid-March 2019. A mild winter, high stock levels and low gas prices has reduced the need for Asian markets to import LNG on long-haul routes the Atlantic basin reducing demand for LNG ships. Interest in new LNG ships, however, remains strong with 15 new large ships ordered so far this year. In Q1 2019, 13 new large LNG ships were added to the fleet and a further 31 are scheduled for delivery before the end of the year. The accompanying Excel download to this reports lists all the new orders placed since 2016, together with all new ships delivered in 2018 and scheduled for delivery in 2019.