Special Reports

LNG's ongoing commoditization - resulting in smaller, shorter, flexible contracts with less credit-worthy buyers - is severely challenging new liquefaction financings. Several solutions have been proposed to ease this financing slowdown. In this S&P Global Platts special report, LNG financing leaders discuss other potential FID facilitators, including greater equity investments, increased LNG price hedging, project sponsor guarantees, and a more proactive approach from export credit agencies.

The phenomenal growth in global LNG trade flows has been underpinned by a vast fleet of LNG carriers that numbers just shy of 500 vessels. The fleet has done for LNG, what container ships have done for manufactured products like the iPhone. It has made it possible for gas producers to propagate LNG as a global fuel and a global commodity. The global LNG fleet will grow at its fastest rate ever in 2018, with newer and better technologies. But will this be enough to absorb the vast amount of new LNG supply coming next year, mainly from the US, and still keep freight rates at affordable levels?

We explore the effects that China's growing exposure to spot LNG fundamentals and prices may have on domestic gas sector policies and international supply agreements.

We examine the key forces driving commoditization in the LNG industry, and the actions industry stakeholders are taking to capture opportunities in the changing business landscape.