REUTERS, Singapore/London

Shipping costs for liquefied natural gas cargoes have rallied to their highest in about eight months with vessel availability tightened by a shift in more ships heading to Asia at the same time as conflict has escalated in the Middle East.

The Atlantic freight rate for vessels with two-stroke engines capable of carrying 174,000 cubic meters of LNG, the most common type in the market, was assessed at $51,750 per day on Monday, its highest level since October 3, according to pricing agency Spark Commodities.

The Pacific freight rate for the same class of ship also surged, with Spark assessing it at $36,750/day on Monday, the highest level since October 25.

“This rise in global LNG freight rates has been largely due to tight vessel availability, which in turn has been caused by a shift in pricing signals for US cargoes,” said Spark Commodities analyst Qasim Afghan.

“This has been further exacerbated by market sentiment around the developing situation in the Middle East,” he said.

A recent tender by Egypt to buy up to 160 LNG cargoes through 2026 also drove up demand for vessels.

In February, LNG shipping rates fell to five-year lows as the global fleet expanded and higher delivered prices in Europe incentivised US cargoes to remain in the Atlantic versus travelling to Asia. The shorter average journey times increased tanker availability.