據天然氣工業7月19日消息稱，Affinity船運公司宣布，它已經促成了首筆針對波羅的海交易所LNG現貨評估結算的LNG貨運掉期。

根據該聲明，涉及道達爾天然氣電力公司和嘉能可的交易由Affinity金融產品公司在場外安排，并由交易對手雙方進行雙邊交易。

Affinity聲稱，去年冬天，由于船舶供應緊張，租賃費從上半年的平均5萬美元/天提高到了2018年11月的20萬美元/天以上。到今年3月，波羅的海BLNG1的評估價已降至每天近2萬美元。隨著液化天然氣交易商尋求擴大交易量，他們在運費波動中的風險敞口也在增加。

根據該聲明，波羅的海天然氣交易所的液化天然氣價格評估方法，利用獨立船舶經紀商提交的報價，為某些關鍵貿易航線上的液化天然氣運輸公司標明定期租船等價價格。

波羅的海交易所首席執行官馬克杰克遜表示：“波羅的海在基準貨運市場方面擁有30多年的經驗，我們的液化天然氣評估是我們一系列航運市場數據中最新的一項。我們很高興該產品已被市場采用，市場認可我們的指數生產過程的價值和質量。我們期待著繼續與這個發展中市場的經紀商和用戶合作，并預計未來兩條波羅的海液化天然氣航線(USG/East Coast UK和USG/Far East)將于今年晚些時候開通。”

第一筆交易標志著液化天然氣遠期貨運市場發展的一個重要里程碑。隨著波羅的海天然氣交易所即將發布更多的液化天然氣現貨航線評估，Affinity聲稱，它預計雙方對雙邊貿易的需求將會增加。

吉布森補充說：“最初的交易都是為了測試結算機制現在是時候嘗試一下，看看它們是如何工作的。”

“隨著人們對產品和市場的了解，JKM金融交易的強勁增長以及對其他天然氣樞紐的利差將支撐對沖運價的實際需求。”

曹海斌 摘譯自 天然氣工業

原文如下：

Affinity arranges first LNG freight derivatives trade

Affinity (Shipping) LLP has announced that it has facilitated the first LNG freight swap settled against the Baltic Exchange LNG spot assessments.

According to the statement, the trades involving Total Gas & Power and Glencore were arranged over-the-counter by Affinity Financial Products LLP and executed bilaterally by the counterparties.

Affinity claims that, last winter, tight vessel availability pushed charter rates from an average US$50 000/d during the first half of the year to above US$200 000/d during November 2018. By March this year, the Baltic BLNG1 assessment had decreased to nearly US$20 000/d. As LNG traders seek to build trade volumes, their exposure to this volatility in freight rates increases.

According to the statement, the Baltic Exchange’s LNG rate assessment methodology utilises submissions from independent shipbrokers to mark time charter equivalent rates for LNG carriers on certain, key trade lanes.

Baltic Exchange Chief Executive, Mark Jackson, said: “The Baltic has over 30 years of experience of benchmarking freight markets and our LNG assessments are the latest in our suite of shipping market data. We’re delighted that this product has been adopted by the market which has recognised the value and quality of our index production process. We look forward to continue working with brokers and users in this developing market and anticipate that the next two Baltic LNG routes (USG/East Coast UK and USG/Far East) will go live later in the year.”

This first trade signifies a key milestone in the development of an LNG forward freight market. With the Baltic Exchange set to release even more LNG spot route assessments, Affinity claims that it sees more appetite for bilateral trades.

Gibson added: “Initial trades are all about testing the settlement mechanism. Now is the time to try things and see how they work.

“The strong growth in financial trading of JKM and the spreads to other natural gas hubs will underpin the physical demand for hedging freight rates as understanding of the products and market develops.”