What it is
Natural gas cooled until it becomes a liquid, so that it can be carried by ship to places that pipelines do not reach. It is turned back into gas at the port of arrival.
How it is usually quoted
US dollars per million British thermal units.
This is the customary unit of the reference market. Other markets for the same commodity may use another unit or currency, and an exchange can change a contract’s terms: its own rulebook is the authority.
Where the reference contract trades
The reference for spot cargoes in north-east Asia is a published price assessment; futures settled against it are listed on CME and ICE.
Named for orientation only. Naming an exchange or a market here does not mean that GIO4X gives access to it.
What commonly moves it
- Winter demand in north-east Asia and Europe
- How much pipeline gas reaches Europe
- Stoppages at liquefaction plants, and new plants starting up
- The cost of chartering tankers
- The oil price, to which many long-term supply contracts are linked
These are the things people who follow this market usually watch. They explain how the market works; they do not say what the price will do next.
Where it comes from
The United States, Qatar and Australia are the largest exporters, followed by Russia and Malaysia.
The order of producers changes from year to year, so no quantities or shares are given here.
At GIO4X
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is not offered as a GIO4X instrument. This page is general education about a market that exists elsewhere, and nothing on it means that GIO4X quotes, trades or gives access to it.
The commodities GIO4X does list are Brent crude, gold, natural gas, palladium, platinum, silver and WTI crude.
Words worth knowing
A reference page. Educational information, not investment advice or a recommendation to trade. It gives no price and no forecast.