China may launch LNG futures trading for the first time later this year, Chinese brokerage Zhongtai Futures Co said, as the country is seeking more influence in setting Asian gas prices.

• New contracts would be offered by the Shanghai International Energy Exchange which are pending government approvals, said Li Yingshuai, an analyst with Zhongtai.
• The price limit proposed is +/- 8% from the previous day’s settlement.
• Contracts listed would be monthly in the first year, and quarterly for the following two years.
• In 2020, Chinese regulators started to consider launching LNG futures to provide price hedging tools and to help diversity imports of the fuel as total gas demand is estimated to more than double by 2023, research institutes said at the time.