China’s LNG market moved higher through April, driven by supply disruptions and inland pull even as industrial demand remained muted. Early-April tightening from Strait of Hormuz congestion and unplanned Qatar outages, along with momentum buying, underpinned gains, while late-April geopolitical pressure and freight tightness supported firmer delivered costs. Monthly assessments indicate a meaningful month-on-month lift in Ex-Shanghai valuations, signaling firmness. Ongoing pipeline expansion and steady power demand supported inland pull, while manufacturing activity in key coastal bases softened, tempering fresh industrial buying. Storage remains partly filled, and traders continued to reload cargoes, keeping liquidity and appetite for near-term exposure. Supply and upstream dynamics amplified the move, with spot quotes and freight pressure reinforcing higher import parity and supplier offers. The uptrend persisted into late April and into early May, suggesting momentum rather than a retreat. View is for range-bound to firm pricing, with inventories around mid-capacity likely to cap aggressive buying and buyers facing elevated delivered costs in the short-term.
