U.S. LNG exports decrease, Europe remains top destination
U.S. LNG exports decrease, Europe remains top destination
Europe was the top importer of U.S. LNG for a fifth straight month, taking about 64% of U.S. exports, according to the data. European countries are slashing gas imports from Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has threatened to cut supply to "unfriendly nations," and even cut flow to Bulgaria and Poland last week. By Marcy de Luna
作者：馬西·德·露娜
HOUSTON, May 2 (Reuters) - U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) fell about 8% last month, according to preliminary Refinitiv vessel tracking data on Monday, but Europe remained the top importer as the continent secures alternate supply following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
休斯頓，5月2日(路透社)-根據週一Refinitiv船舶跟蹤的初步數據，美國上個月液化天然氣(LNG)出口下降了約8%，但歐洲仍然是最大的進口國，因為在俄羅斯入侵烏克蘭後，歐洲大陸獲得了替代供應。
U.S. LNG exports to all destinations came to about 7.10 million tonnes (MT) last month, according to Refinitiv, down from a record high 7.67 MT in March.
根據Refinitiv的數據，上個月美國對所有目的地的液化天然氣出口量約為710萬噸，低於3月份創紀錄的7.67噸。
Europe was the top importer of U.S. LNG for a fifth straight month, taking about 64% of U.S. exports, according to the data. European countries are slashing gas imports from Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has threatened to cut supply to "unfriendly nations," and even cut flow to Bulgaria and Poland last week.
數據顯示，歐洲連續第五個月成為美國液化天然氣的最大進口國，約佔美國出口的64%。在俄羅斯入侵烏克蘭後，歐洲國家正在大幅削減從俄羅斯的天然氣進口。莫斯科威脅要切斷對“不友好國家”的供應，甚至在上週切斷了對保加利亞和波蘭的供應。
"Europe remains the dominant buyer of U.S. volumes," said Reid I'Anson, senior commodity analyst at Kpler. "That seems to be continuing into the shoulder months."
開普勒資深大宗商品分析師Reid I‘Anson稱，“歐洲仍是美國成交量的主要買家.”“這種情況似乎會持續到肩部的幾個月。”
The drop in U.S. exports stems mainly from planned maintenance at U.S. LNG plants, experts said, which reduces available liquefaction capacity, though exports still exceeded expectations.
專家説，美國出口下降的主要原因是美國液化天然氣工廠計劃中的維護，這降低了可用的液化能力，儘管出口仍超出預期。
Eventually, operators will have to conduct maintenance or risk operational troubles during peak winter demand.
最終，運營商將不得不在冬季需求高峯期進行維護，否則將面臨運營故障的風險。
"The longer and harder these facilities run, which they have been for the last year, the more likely you're going to have issues pop up," said Ross Wyeno, lead analyst of Americas LNG Analytics at S&P Global Commodity Insights.
標準普爾全球大宗商品洞察(S&P Global Commodity Insights)美洲液化天然氣分析(America LNG Analytics)首席分析師羅斯·懷諾(Ross Wyeno)表示：“這些設施運行的時間越長，難度越大，出現問題的可能性就越大。”
Last month, U.S. energy company Sempra Energy's SRE.N Cameron LNG plant in Louisiana began a three-week maintenance period on a liquefaction train, while Freeport LNG had an 18-day maintenance period, according to S&P.
標普數據顯示，上個月，美國能源公司Sempra Energy位於路易斯安那州的SRE.N Cameron LNG工廠開始了為期三週的液化列車維護期，而自由港LNG的維護期為18天。
The United States is producing more LNG year-over-year because of additional capacity from Venture Global's new Calcasieu Pass LNG export terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, as it ramps up.
由於Venture Global位於路易斯安那州卡梅隆教區的新Calcasieu Pass液化天然氣出口終端的產能增加，美國的液化天然氣產量同比增加。
Cheniere Energy Inc's LNG.A Sabine Pass facility in Louisiana now has a sixth liquefaction train operating. The U.S. Energy Department last month approved Cheniere to export more LNG from its Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi, Texas, terminals.
Cheniere Energy Inc.位於路易斯安那州的Sabine Pass工廠現在有第六列液化列車在運行。美國能源部上個月批准Cheniere從其Sabine Pass和Corpus Christi碼頭出口更多液化天然氣。
About 13% of exports went to Asia and 2% to Latin America, data showed. About 21 vessels responsible for 21% of volumes had not signaled a destination.
數據顯示，約13%的出口流向亞洲，2%流向拉丁美洲。約有21艘船隻尚未發出目的地信號，佔總運量的21%。
Global prices have tapered off in recent weeks. The European LNG benchmark TRNLTTFWKD this week traded at $30 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), according to Refinitiv, compared with $39.22 per mmBtu for the same week in March.
最近幾周，全球房價已逐漸回落。根據Refinitiv的數據，歐洲基準液化天然氣TRNLTTFWKD本週的交易價格為每百萬英熱單位(MmBtu)30美元，而3月份同一周的交易價格為每MmBtu 39.22美元。
Asia spot gas this week traded at $23.50 per mmBtu LNG-AS , down from $35.00 per mmBtu in March.
亞洲現貨天然氣本週的交易價格為23.50美元/MmBtu，低於3月份的35.00美元/MmBtu。
(Reporting by Marcy de Luna in Houston Editing by Matthew Lewis)
(馬西·德·露娜在休斯頓編輯馬修·劉易斯報道)
