The LNG tanker market is showing a clear trend towards large capacity and high value ships in the young fleet[ds_preview]. The outlook for the LNG shipping market is positive as LNG exports in 2016 have seen the strongest growth since 2010. As new countries join the ranks of LNG importers – also driven by deployment of FSRUs – fleet utilization and charter rates have been increasing since the second half of 2016. A further increase is expected in 2017 and LNG trade is expected to exceed fleet capacity by 2020. A look at the delivery schedule until 2020 shows an opposing trend. A widespread network of LNG suppliers and consumers could also fuel the uptake of LNG as a ship fuel as worldwide availability increases.
