LNG exports from Trinidad and Tobago rise 23% in November

November LNG exports from Trinidad and Tobago rose by more than 23% from October, S&P Global Commodity Insights data showed on Dec. 10.

LNG exports from the Caribbean nation, produced at the country's sole LNG facility, Atlantic LNG, totaled 36.41 Bcf in November, up from 29.55 Bcf in October.

November's export volume was around 18.60% higher than the volume exported in the same month in 2023 and around 5% higher than November 2022 exports, the data showed.

The UK was the primary destination for these exports, totaling 7.05 Bcf, up from 3.54 Bcf in October, marking the highest monthly level of Trinidadian exports to the UK this year. The volumes exported to the UK were shipped on two cargoes: one delivered to the Dragon terminal by the Maran Gas Hydra, and another traveling to the Grain import terminal with an expected arrival date of Dec. 12.

The second-largest volume of Trinidadian LNG exports went to Colombia, with 6.91 Bcf, up from 3.53 Bcf in October. This was the second-highest level of Trinidadian LNG exported to Colombia this year. Some of the volumes exported to Colombia were part of the first-ever cargo delivered to the country for non-power generation use at the end of November.

At 3.66 Bcf, Brazil was the third-largest destination for Trinidadian exports. This marks the third consecutive month that Trinidad and Tobago has exported LNG to Brazil, with the November volumes being the highest of the three months Trinidad has exported LNG to Brazil this year.

El Salvador and Lithuania tied as the fourth destination by volume, with 3.54 Bcf. The previous exports to Lithuania date back to July of this year.

Other destinations for Trinidadian exports in November included Puerto Rico with 3.53 Bcf, Turkey with 1.13 Bcf, and Italy with 540 MMcf.

Another 3.26 Bcf exported in November had yet to be nominated to destinations in Asia, while 3.26 Bcf remained to be nominated to unspecified destinations, according to the data.

Notably, Chile, the only consistent destination for Trinidadian exports from January to October this year, was not shipped any LNG in November. This broke its record as a consistent destination for Trinidadian exports for 23 consecutive months.

The November exports were shipped on 12 cargoes, up from 10 the previous month, marking the largest number of cargoes exported since July.

Despite being the second-largest LNG exporter in the Americas after the US, Trinidad and Tobago has faced challenges in natural gas production due to a lack of upstream investment and issues with existing projects. Platts, part of Commodity Insights, assessed the DES Northwest Europe Marker for October at $13.851/MMBtu on Dec. 10, up 11 cents on the day.