Argus launches first southeast Asian LNG price indication

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Dec 03, 2012, 10:09 ET

SINGAPORE, Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading energy and commodities price reporting organisation Argus has launched the LNG industry's first southeast Asian delivered ex-ship (des) price indications, known as the ASEA™ index, in the Argus LNG Daily report. The launch reflects the need to improve price transparency ahead of the startup of Singapore and Malaysia's first LNG import terminals early next year.

The ASEA index is designed to offer the LNG industry a reliable price indication for cargoes for delivery to Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, trading 6-12 weeks before the date of delivery. The index is split into three forward half-month periods, in line with Argus' existing Asia-Pacific physical price assessments. In the absence of traded volumes in southeast Asia, Argus will derive the ASEA price based on a netback calculation from other Argus regional physical price assessments.

"Southeast Asia will play a key role in global LNG trading, as Singapore and Malaysia prepare to receive their first LNG imports, and Thailand and Indonesia expand their import requirements," Argus Media chairman and chief executive Adrian Binks said. "The new Argus southeast Asian price indications are an important step towards price identification in the region."

Argus' new ASEA coverage complements the Argus LNG Daily report's existing suite of Asia-Pacific and European spot price assessments, market commentary and global netback pricing.

The Argus LNG Daily report provides spot price assessments for Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, west Africa, Europe and the Caribbean, information about shipping movements, market-moving news and analysis. The report has been carefully designed to provide global LNG market participants with the critical insights and key LNG statistics and data needed to stay ahead of market developments, as well as to help shape commercial strategies.

About Argus Media

Argus is an independent media organisation with more than 450 staff. It is headquartered in London and has offices in each of the world's principal energy centres. Its main activities comprise publishing market reports containing price assessments, market commentary and news, and business intelligence reports that analyse market and industry trends.

More than half of Argus' staff are commodity journalists who specialise in reporting news and price information relating to physical energy and related commodity markets. They operate according to a rigorous Editorial Code of Conduct and an Ethics Policy that align with best journalistic practice, including the avoidance of conflicts of interest.

Argus is a leading provider of data on prices and fundamentals, news, analysis, consultancy services and conferences for the global crude, oil products, natural gas, electricity, coal, emissions, bioenergy, fertilizer, petrochemical and transportation industries. Data provided by Argus are widely used for indexation of physical trade. Companies, governments and international agencies use Argus information for analysis and planning purposes.

Argus has 19 offices globally, including London, Houston, Washington, New York, Calgary, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore, Dubai, Beijing, Tokyo, Sydney, Moscow, Astana and other key centres of the energy industry. Argus was founded in 1970 and is a privately held UK-registered company.