Japan Spot LNG Prices Fall

Prices for spot liquefied natural gas cargoes imported into Japan, the world’s biggest buyer of the fuel, fell in February to the lowest since the country’s trade ministry started compiling data in 2014. 
LNG prices have been hit by a perfect storm of new supply coming on stream in the United States and Australia, a warmer northern hemisphere winter, and the coronavirus outbreak this year that has eviscerated demand for gas and other commodities, Reuters reported.
The average contract price for spot LNG cargoes shipped to Japan in February fell to $3.40 per million British thermal units (mBtu), according to data released by the ministry of economy on Tuesday. 
That was the lowest since the ministry started publishing the data in March 2014 and was down from $5.90/mBtu in January. 
Asian spot LNG prices LNG-AS fell to a record low of $2.70/mBtu last month as the coronavirus outbreak worsened in China, the fastest growing market for LNG imports. 
While the outbreak appears to be coming under control in China, the coronavirus is spreading in other parts of the world, with all of Italy under virtual lockdown and governments vowing stimulus packages to help support financial markets.