Liquefied Petroleum Gold (April 11, 2014)

While the large crude oil tankers slip into what seems like a second quarter slumber, buzz continues to build around the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector. Press headlines tout the recent success of LPG shipowners, many of whom are finally able to relish the fruits of their labor. Freight rates on the sector’s the largest vessels, Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs) are in uncharted territory, topping $100 per metric ton this week on the benchmark Arabian Gulf to Japan trade. As the supply for LPG continues to grow with increased natural gas and crude oil production, incremental seaborne transportation requirements will mount. As with other shipping markets, oversupply concerns are omnipresent, but, for now, the near-term future for LPG shipowners appears to be graced by the Midas touch. 

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