据世界天然气网2月21日消息 根据壳牌公司的最新年度液化天然气展望，在供应紧张和价格波动的情况下，全球液化天然气贸易在2021年间增长了6%，至3.8亿吨。

壳牌表示，这些条件（不断上升的需求和供应限制）导致液化天然气价格全年保持波动。2021年10月价格达到创纪录水平。此时，储存量创历史新低的欧洲正努力确保冬季液化天然气货物的安全。

这种波动性突出表明，需要采取更具战略性的方法来确保可靠和灵活的供应。壳牌表示，液化天然气供需缺口将在20年代中期出现，这引起了人们对增加供应和满足不断增长的液化天然气需求的关注，尤其是在亚洲。

壳牌公司Wael Sawan表示：“随着各国发展低碳能源系统，追求净零排放目标，专注于更清洁的天然气形式和脱碳措施，将有助于液化天然气在未来几十年保持可靠和灵活的能源来源。”

尽管存在阻碍，但2021年液化天然气出口仍出现增长。美国引领出口增长，同比增长2400万吨。此外，预计2022年美国将成为世界上最大的液化天然气出口国。

总体而言，到2040年，全球液化天然气需求预计将超过每年7亿吨。2021年的需求增长了90%，亚洲将消费这一增长的大部分。

液化天然气在进一步利用可再生能源方面发挥着关键作用。例如，巴西在2021年间进口了三倍的液化天然气，因为持续干旱的天气导致了发电量下降。

2021年，随着液化天然气价值链的脱碳，在围绕投资解决排放问题的几次公告中，势头开始回升。

吴恒磊 编译自 世界天然气

原文如下：

Shell: Global LNG trade increased by 6% in 2021 amid high prices

According to the latest annual LNG Outlook from Shell, the global trade in LNG increased 6 per cent to 380 million tonnes during 2021 amid supply constraints and volatile prices.

Shell says that these conditions (rising demand and supply constraints) caused LNG prices to remain volatile throughout the year. Prices reached record levels in October 2021. This is when Europe, with record low storage levels, struggled to secure LNG cargoes for the winter.

The volatility highlighted the need for a more strategic approach to secure reliable and flexible supply. Shell says an LNG supply-demand gap is to emerge in the mid-2020s. This calls to attention the need for more investment to increase supply and meet rising LNG demand, especially in Asia.

“As countries develop lower-carbon energy systems and pursue net-zero emissions goals, focusing on cleaner forms of gas and decarbonisation measures will help LNG to remain a reliable and flexible energy source for decades to come,” said Wael Sawan from Shell.

LNG exports grew in 2021 despite the troubles. The U.S. led export growth with a year-on-year increase of 24 million tonnes. Also, it is expected to become the world’s largest LNG exporter in 2022.

Overall, global LNG demand is expected to cross 700 million tonnes a year by 2040; a 90 per cent increase on 2021 demand. Asia is to consume the majority of this growth.

LNG has a key role to play to further the use of renewable energy. For example, Brazil tripled imports of LNG during 2021 as persistent dry weather led to weaker hydropower generation.

In 2021, momentum picked up for decarbonising the LNG value chain with several announcements around investments to address emissions.