Record LNG traffic on the Panama and Suez canals

February saw a record number of LNG ships transit the Panama Canal and a record quantity of LNG transit the Suez Canal in a southbound direction. For the Suez Canal it was the first time since September 2008 that more LNG went through the canal southbound than went northbound. The increase in long-haul, inter-basin, trade is increasing demand for LNG ships in the peak demand periods and creating more volatility in short-term charter rates.