据能源世界网4月22日伦敦报道，英国已成为世界上最便宜的天然气市场，由于疫情造成的能源需求下降，本周前一个月的合约价跌破美国的价格，这是很罕见的情况。

上一次发生这种情况是十年前在2007/08年度全球金融危机之后发生的。

通常认为美国天然气交易枢纽Henry hub的天然气价格是欧洲天然气价格的下限。英国天然气价格跌至低于美国的价格使其不仅在欧洲是最便宜的，而且在全球也是最便宜的。

根据Refinitiv的价格数据显示，英国国家平衡点(NBP) 5月合约周一收于每百万英热单位1.72美元，较美国亨利枢纽5月期货合约低0.20美元。

周二，英国合约价格下跌更多，下午交易价格约为每百万英热单位1.63美元。

Refinitiv欧洲天然气研究主管韦恩?布莱恩(Wayne Bryan)表示，如今人们又意识到，全球需求受到了影响，人们担心第二波COVID-19和社会疏远措施可能会持续至少12个月。

在欧洲大陆，价格比NBP高。根据Refinitiv的数据显示，在欧洲流动性最强的荷兰市场，5月合约周一收于每百万英热单位略高于2美元，周二跌至约1.90美元。

在亚洲，液化天然气(LNG)价格每百万英热单位略高于2美元。

咨询公司雷斯塔能源的天然气和电力市场主管卡洛斯?托里斯-迪亚兹表示，由于封锁，英国4月份的天然气需求一直非常低。

到目前为止，从3月到4月，电力部门的需求下降了34%，工业部门的需求下降了8%。由于天气变暖，风力变大，使得电力和住宅领域的天然气需求更少，导致总需求的下降进一步加剧。

英国价格疲软的另一个原因是液化天然气货物不断抵达英国。

一位天然气贸易商表示，液化天然气将在5月再次走强，货物不可能取消，因为现在赶不上最后期限发货。

据天然气贸易商称，来自卡塔尔的货物数量强劲，在亚洲找不到立足之地的货物被运往欧洲，主要目的地是英国。

根据Refinitiv的数据显示，到本月底，预计将有12批来自卡塔尔的货物在英国卸货，比2019年4月多出两批。

本月有四批来自美国的货物抵达英国，而2019年4月只有一批，但自4月9日以来就没有任何货物抵达英国。

一位天然气贸易商表示，如果您看一下绝对价格和生产成本，那么显然会有更少的（美国）液化天然气来。

郝芬 译自 能源世界网

原文如下：

UK becomes world's cheapest natural gas market

Energy World

Britain has become the world's cheapest natural gas market as the front-month contract fell below its U.S. counterpart this week in a rare event caused by falling energy demand owing to the coronavirus outbreak.

The last time this happened was a decade ago in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2007/08.

The U.S. Henry Hub gas price is usually considered the floor for European gas prices. The drop in UK gas below the U.S. price has made it not only the cheapest in Europe but globally.

The May contract on the UK's National Balancing Point (NBP) hub closed on Monday at $1.72 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), $0.20 below U.S. Henry Hub May futures , Refinitiv price data showed.

On Tuesday, the UK contract shed more value, trading around $1.63 per mmBtu in the afternoon.

"Today there was another realisation that demand has been affected globally and there is concern about a second wave of COVID-19 and social distancing measures could last for at least 12 months," said Wayne Bryan, director of European gas research at Refinitiv.

In continental Europe, prices are at premium to the NBP.

On the Dutch market, the most liquid in Europe, the May contract closed slightly above $2 per mmBtu on Monday and fell to about $1.90 per mmBtu on Tuesday, Refinitiv data showed.

In Asia, liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices are slightly above $2 per mmBtu.

"UK natural gas demand in April has been very low due to lockdowns," said Carlos Torres-Diaz, head of gas and power markets at consultancy Rystad Energy.

"So far, demand from the power sector has dropped 34 per cent from March to April and 8 per cent in the industrial sector. The drop in total demand has now been exacerbated as the weather has turned warmer and windier resulting in even less gas demand for power and in the residential sector."

In the United States, industrial demand remained strong despite the coronavirus crisis and the market remained balanced, with strong injections into storage, Torres-Diaz added.

Another reason for the weak UK prices is the continued arrival of liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes to Britain.

"LNG will be strong again (in May) with no possibility to cancel cargoes as it's too late to meet deadlines," one gas trader said.

Qatari arrivals have been strong, with cargoes that cannot find a home in Asia being delivered to Europe, mostly to Britain, gas traders said.

A total of 12 cargoes from Qatar are expected to be discharged in Britain by the end of the month, two more than in April 2019, Refinitiv data showed.

Four cargoes from the United States arrived in Britain this month, compared with one in April 2019, but there have been no cargoes since April 9.

"If you look at the absolute price and the production costs, then it is clear that less (U.S.) LNG will come," a gas trader said.