Iran’s LPG shipments eased to between 358,500 mt and 402,500 mt in February after recording a post-sanctions high of 520,000 mt in January, sustaining robust exports after normal production resumed in mid-November following maintenance at the South Pars gas field, fixtures from shipping sources showed this week. The February shipments are destined for China, Taiwan, Africa and possibly India, according to shipping sources and S&P Global Platts trade flow software cFlow. Unlike in previous months, no vessels were seen bound for Indonesia, as Iran and Indonesia are still negotiating the renewal of their term contract. Naftiran Intertrade Co., or NICO, a subsidiary of National Iranian Oil Co., lifted a 44,000-mt evenly split cargo from Iranian Gas Commercial Co., or IGCC, at Assaluyeh on February 17, aboard the VLGC BW Elm, cFlow showed. The vessel is now off southwestern Sri Lanka, cFlow showed. According to shipping sources, NICO was also due to lift an IGCC cargo comprising 33,000 mt of propane and 11,000 mt of butane on a second trip aboard the BW Elm. cFlow showed that the vessel is destined for Mailiao in Taiwan. NICO had also lifted in January a 44,000-mt evenly split cargo from IGCC for delivery to Mailiao aboard the LPG Capricorn which was at the Taiwanese port between February 7 and 13, cFlow showed. Thai trader Siam Gas lifted at Assaluyeh on February 5 aboard the VLGC Ming Long, a cargo comprising 33,000 mt of propane and 11,000 mt of butane from IGCC. The vessel is due to arrive at Shantou around February 25, and is currently off the southeast Chinese coast, cFlow showed. Trading firm Pacific Petrochemical has lifted at Assaluyeh a 22,000 mt evenly split cargo from Kharg Petrochemical aboard the Pacific Rizhao, as well as a 20,000-mt propane lot from Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industry Commercial Co., or PGPICC. The vessel, which is currently in the Gulf of Oman, is due to arrive at Qinzhou around March 10, cFlow showed. SOCAR, PETREDEC AMONG LIFTERS Pacific Petrochemical lifted a 44,000-mt evenly split cargo from PGPICC aboard the Sea Dragon, which is due to arrive in Ningbo on March 5. It is currently in the Indian Ocean, according to cFlow. Pacific Petrochemical also lifted a cargo comprising 33,000 mt of propane and 11,000 mt of butane from IGCC aboard the Gas Courage, which is due to arrive in Ningbo on March 3, cFlow showed. The VLGC is currently off Singapore. International trading firm Petredec is lifting a 44,000-mt propane cargo aboard the BW Orion from IGCC. The vessel is currently off Fujairah though its destination is not immediately known. BW Orion had been in Ningbo around end-January, cFlow showed. Azerbaijani trading firm Socar is lifting from PGPICC a 44,000-mt evenly split cargo aboard the EverRich 10, shipping sources said. The VLGC is now in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was last in Zhangjiagang in late January, cFlow showed. Iranian trading firm Triliance is lifting aboard the Gas Crystal a 44,000 mt propane cargo from PGPICC, shipping sources said. The vessel is currently near the Gulf of Oman, cFlow showed. International trading firm Glencore is lifting an 8,500-mt butane parcel from PGPICC aboard the SeaSpeed, shipping sources said. The vessel is currently near Fujairah, cFlow showed. The SeaSpeed was last in Mombasa, Kenya in early February and had also been at Beira in Mozambique before that, cFlow showed. So far, only one fixture is seen for March lifting from Assaluyeh, shipping sources said. Siam Gas is lifting a 44,000 mt propane cargo from IGCC aboard the VLGC Ming De, which is first due to land at Jebel Ali in the UAE on Saturday, cFlow showed. The Thai-flagged vessel was last seen in southern China around end-January, cFlow showed. Iran’s LPG shipments in 2017 totaled around 3.5 million mt, with the highest monthly volume last year seen in August at 423,000 mt before the South Pars gas field maintenance, which started in September and sharply reduced exports. Source: Platts
Shipments of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) from Iran dipped in February to a volume of an estimated 3.5 million mt and 402,500 mt. The decline comes after a post-sanctions high of 520,000 mt was recorded in January, following the resumption of normal production at the South Pars gas field, which had been halted for maintenance. According to shipping industry sources, the February LPG exports were destined for China, Taiwan, Africa and possibly India. Total shipments for 2017 were between 358,500 mt, with the highest volume seen in August, at 423,000 mt.