據油價網4月3日消息稱，自2020年秋季以來，美國顯著提高了對最大的液化天然氣進口地區亞洲的液化天然氣出口，近幾周創下歷史新高，并與卡塔爾競爭向最大的液化天然氣買家供應燃料。

世界三大液化天然氣進口國日本和韓國等冬季氣溫低于正常水平，導致近幾個月對天然氣的高需求，而疫情后工業活動的復蘇也有助于推高需求。

據路透社援引Reciitiv的估計，2021年2月，美國對三大進口國的液化天然氣出口量達到320萬噸，是此前月度最高出口水平的2.5倍。

與2019年相比，去年美國對亞洲的液化天然氣出口已經大幅增長，盡管疫情爆發，且春季和夏季需求低迷，當時美國出口和液化量非常低。

美國能源信息署（EIA）上月表示，2020年美國對亞洲的液化天然氣出口激增67%，其中美國液化天然氣出口總額猛增32%。根據EIA的數據，去年美國對亞洲的液化天然氣出口激增67%，占美國出口液化天然氣總量的近一半，即31億立方英尺/天。

到2021年，液化天然氣出口繼續飆升，美國液化天然氣甚至在日本給卡塔爾帶來了競爭。然而，路透社援引官方數據指出，美國天然氣的價格比卡塔爾高。

亞洲的液化天然氣需求將繼續激增，但卡塔爾正在通過低成本天然氣和大規模擴張產能來擴大其全球市場份額，就新項目(包括美國計劃的項目)的成本而言，其很難被擊敗。

朱佳妮 摘譯自 油價網

原文如下：

U.S. LNG Exports To Asia Hit Record Highs

Since the fall of 2020, the United States has significantly boosted its liquefied natural gas exports to the top LNG-importing region, Asia, to the point of setting record highs in recent weeks and competing with Qatar for supplying the fuel to the biggest LNG buyers.

Below-normal winter temperatures in north Asia—the home of the world’s top three LNG importers Japanand South Korea—led to high demand for gas in recent months, while the recovery of industrial activities from the pandemic also helped to push up demand.

According to estimates from Refinitiv cited by Reuters, American exports of LNG to the top three importing nations reached 3.2 million tons in February 2021, which was two and a half times the previous highest monthly export levels.

U.S. LNG exports to Asia were already surging last year compared to 2019, despite the pandemic and the lull in demand in the spring and summer months, when U.S. exports and liquefaction volumes were very low.

U.S. exports of LNG to Asia surged by 67 percent in 2020 as total LNG exports out of the United States jumped by 32 percent, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said last month. American LNG exports to Asia surged by 67 percent last year, and accounted for nearly half—or 3.1 Bcf/d—of all LNG exports out of the United States, according to EIA data.

LNG exports continued to soar into 2021, and American LNG even gave Qatar a run for its money in Japan. However, the U.S. gas is more expensive on a per heating unit basis than Qatar’s, Reuters noted, citing official data.

LNG demand will continue to surge in Asia, but Qatar is making its move to expand its global market share with low-cost gas and a huge expansion in capacity, which will be difficult to beat in terms of costs for new projects, including those planned in the United States.