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Shell's LNG trading makes $2.4 bln in last 2023 quarter, sources say

Almost a third of Shell's. revenue in the fourth quarter of 2023 originated from the $2.4. billion it made in trading melted gas (LNG) as it. captured strong need ahead of winter, three sources close to. the business told .

Shell did not divulge how much it made on LNG trading when. it reported fourth quarter net profits of $7.2 billion on Feb. 1. The British company rarely gives information of the efficiency. of trading beyond general descriptions. The revenue turned on LNG. underscores the value of gas in its portfolio.

2 of the sources stated the quarterly benefit from LNG. trading was among the highest in Shell's history.

A Shell representative declined to discuss the profit. figure.

Shell, the world's largest oil and gas trader, has LNG. operations worldwide that allow it to gain from local. shifts in need and prices.

The strong performance was a result of the opening of. trading chances, called arbitrages, between eastern and. western markets as the northern hemisphere's winter season set in, CEO. Wael Sawan said on Feb. 1.

Arbitrage chances have narrowed considering that the start of the. year due to a drop in gas rates as a result of sufficient. products and moderate winter season conditions, he added.

Shell represented almost 17% of global LNG trading volumes. of 404 million metric tons in 2023, according to business data.

Shell's gas trading hasn't always settled.

reported in November 2022 that Shell's trading. division taped a loss of almost $1 billion in the 3rd. quarter of the year after traders were caught out by a sharp. rally in European gas rates when Russia halted products.

Shell has previously stated that trading operations are. expected to supply a 2% to 4% lift to the company's return on. average capital utilized, which reached 18.8% in 2023.

DOMINANCE

Shell anticipates gas, power and oil trading to play a key function. as it works out the energy shift. Trading can help enhance. returns from oil and gas and shield the company from. fluctuations in product rates.

Shell's dominant position in the LNG market will be. especially essential in the long term,

Shell has constructed scale to be able to control LNG trading. through gas volumes and a large fleet of tankers, said. Christyan Malek, global head of energy method at J.P. Morgan. This scale will also allow Shell to dominate trading in LNG. even through a recession in gas costs.

Malek stated Shell would likely continue to hold a dominant. position in the LNG market, enabling it to take advantage of market. dislocations for decades.