Non-US projects to boost global LPG supply

US export infrastructure will limit US LPG exports this winter when global demand is strongest, allowing higher exports from Australia and Russia to provide an important alternative source of supply to China, Asia and Europe.

Russian exports will jump a few months from now when LPG production from Rospan and INK ramp up, explains ESAI energy. Russia’s exportable surplus, which was 155 000 bpd in 2017, will climb to more than 200 000 bpd in early 2019. While most of these new barrels will be exported to Europe, a portion will begin flowing to China by rail.

Meanwhile, Australia’s exports to China and other Far East markets will grow. Australia’s LPG production from fractionation reached new lows of about 40 000 bpd in 2Q18. LPG production from the Ichthys and Prelude LNG projects, which will add 63 000 bpd of LPG supply, will begin by the start of 4Q18.

“This winter, export infrastructure will constrain US exports. Meanwhile, the off-season stock builds in the US and other markets has been unimpressive,” comments ESAI Energy Principal Andrew Reed. “Increased exports from Russia and Australia will help alleviate the scarcity that we anticipate in the European and Asian markets. The start of overland deliveries to China is the more significant development in the longer term – the expansion of this trade provides China with an alternative to seaborne imports.”

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/30082018/non-us-projects-boost-global-lpg-supply/