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- Shut-in would require October JKM below $3.94 by July 20
- TTF prices for September would need to be below EUR10.19/MWh
Price-driven U.S. LNG shut-ins are unlikely this summer because of an absence of the necessary forward price signals, according to BloombergNEF. Negative spot or front-month export arbitrages are past the point at which they can influence the decision whether or not to lift a cargo because of shipping logistics and the cancellation notice periods in U.S. LNG export contracts.
Three-month forward prices do matter, and if the three-month forward profit margin for U.S. LNG exports goes significantly negative, export cargoes should get canceled. However, the market is almost out of time for these prices to move low enough quickly enough to influence overall U.S. LNG supply this summer.
An overall U.S. supply reduction is unlikely in the coming months unless JKM, the Asian LNG benchmark futures contract, for October delivery trades consistently and significantly below $3.94 before July 20. This situation could cause a September lifting from Sabine Pass (with October delivery to North Asia) to be canceled. This scenario would also require TTF prices for September to be trading consistently below 10.19 euros/MWh. As of June 25, JKM October was trading at $5.47/MMBtu and TTF September was trading at 11.50 euros/MWh, 39% and 13% above these thresholds, respectively.
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