US
Oct 06, 2025
2025 has been an atypical year for global energy markets, including LPG, with geopolitics increasingly steering supply–demand balances and, in turn, pricing outcomes.
Mont Belvieu propane values have remained elevated versus recent years on a sustained basis [...]
Read MoreTariffs
Sep 29, 2025
With the US-China trade tariffs being a dominant part of the LPG market in 2025, both Japan and S. Korea have been at the forefront as well as countries likely to “swap” US origin LPG cargoes for other non-US volume [...]
Read MorePetrochemicals
Sep 22, 2025
For the propane market, one of the key indicators in recent years has been the operating levels of PDH plants in China. A sensitivity to the level of propylene production needed from PDH plants is the supply from other sources in China, such as refineries and steam crackers [...]
Read MoreShipping
Sep 15, 2025
On 14 October, USTR Section 301 port-entry fees take effect on Chinese-owned/operated and Chinese-built vessels. While all shipping segments are affected, the VLGC market is particularly exposed: Chinese-owned/operated tonnage faces steep incremental costs in an already weak global LPG environment. We expect re-routings to mitigate these charges, prioritization of compliant ships, and efforts to avoid further volatility—while preserving export flows and schedule reliability wherever possible [...]
Read MoreProduction
Sep 08, 2025
According to NGLStrategy analysis, total LPG production in Northern Europe was 20.5 mm t from gas plants in 2024. Total production has been in decline compared to levels seen at the start of the decade, with more volume of LPG remaining in the natural gas stream.
Going forward, limited growth is expected with overall natural gas production forecast to decline [...]
Read MorePetrochemicals
Sep 01, 2025
With overcapacity for ethylene continuing and difficult economics persistent for a number of petrochemical players in S. Korea, ten companies have agreed to restructure their operations which is likely to lead to a reduction in the total capacity for cracking naphtha [...]
Read MorePetrochemicals
Aug 11, 2025
The economics of producing ethylene via steam cracking have been challenging for many petrochemical producers in recent years, a trend expected to persist amid continued overcapacity in both ethylene and propylene. In response, several companies have sought to curb losses by closing capacity or shifting feedstocks. NGLStrategy examines the implications of these moves for LPG use among major petrochemical players [...]
Read MoreMiddle East
Aug 04, 2025
The most recent meeting of eight OPEC+ countries took place yesterday on the 3rd of August, including Saudi Arabia. For LPG, this is significant as Saudi Arabia currently produces a large volume from associated gas and hence any changes to crude oil production will directly impact the level of LPG available to the domestic market and the international market. It was announced that Saudi Arabia will target a crude oil production of 9.98 million barrels or crude oil per day in September, signifying the complete scale back of the 1 million barrels per day voluntary production cuts announced in 2023 [...]
Read MorePetrochemicals
Jul 28, 2025
Although final figures are not yet out, it appears that US ethylene capacity utilisation has increased notably in the first half of 2025, and as a result ethane consumption is up by 3.5-4% compared to first half 2024.
US ethylene production, NGLS estimates, has increased from around 18.8 mm t in first half 2024 to approaching 19.2 mm t in first half 2025. Although this is not a significant gain, it represents a move in the right direction for US producers [...]
Read MoreShipping
Jul 21, 2025
VLGC freight markets were marked by significant volatility in the first half of 2025, with sharp fluctuations emerging from March onward, primarily due to geopolitical disruptions. This occurred despite only a moderate year-on-year increase in LPG export volumes, highlighting the outsized impact of risk premiums and logistical dislocations [...]
Read MorePetrochemicals
Jul 14, 2025
The spate of ethylene plant closure announcements in Europe and current low cracker operating rates raises the question of what Europe’s future LPG cracking potential will be [...]
Read MoreIndia
Jul 07, 2025
A new pipeline capable of transporting around 8.25 mm t of LPG has recently started commissioning in India and is expected to be fully operational later in 2025. The 2,800 kilometer long pipeline will run from Kandla on the west coast of India to Gorakhpur in the north. The pipeline is reported to directly link with 22 LPG bottling plants; 3 in Gujarat, 6 in Madhya Pradesh and 13 in Uttar Pradesh [...]
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