A shortage of LNG tankers has also boosted charter rates to a record high. (Bloomberg) — North Asia’s liquefied natural gas benchmark rose above $30 per million British Thermal units for the first time, breaking a barrier that few thought possible. Freezing temperatures across north Asia have boosted gas consumption and caught short some end-users, sending the spot rate to new highs. Meanwhile, numerous production issues at export facilities and delays traversing the Panama Canal curbed supplies. The Japan-Korea Marker, Asia’s benchmark for the fuel, rallied 15% to $32.494 per million Btu on Tuesday, the highest since S&P Global Platts began assessments in 2009. Trafigura Group on Tuesday bought an LNG cargo from Total SE for $39.30 per million British thermal units on the S&P Global Platts Market on Close. This marks a dramatic turnaround for the fuel, which hit an all-time low less than nine months ago amid […]