Is LNG Arbitrage Possible in Natural Gas Market?

Abstract

The dynamics of markets for natural gas during the last years included the higher role of LNG in gas trade, the growing role of spot markets, deregulation, liberalization and competition in national gas markets. Rising flexibility in contracts’ destination clauses created new international arbitrage opportunities. However, technical, contractual and market restrictions, difference in LNG qualities, shipping capacity limitation and high transportation costs are the most important barriers for an arbitrageur in LNG market. This paper studies the main barriers for LNG arbitrage and its cost. Using the time series for natural gas prices in different regional markets, we show to what extent arbitrage between three main hubs was possible, and discuss why the markets do not converge to unique world price for natural gas.

Keywords: arbitrage, LNG trade movement, price dynamics

JEL Classification: N7, P28