Flows of LPG from the US Gulf Coast to Northwest Europe over the course of March are expected to hit around 176,000 mt, down slightly from February, according to data from cFlow, S&P Global Platts trade flow software.
Four VLGCs are expected to arrive in Belgium, the Netherlands or France by the end of March, all but one expected in the second half of the month, according to cFlow data.
The 54,509 dwt Challenger is expected to arrive in Le Havre, France from Port Arthur, Texas by the end of Monday, according to cFlow, after being rerouted from an original Rotterdam destination.
The 50,591 dwt Mont Fort is expected to arrive in Antwerp from Freeport, Texas by Wednesday; the 53,854 dwt is expected to arrive in Flushing, in the Netherlands on March 22; and the 58,063 dwt BW Cedar is expected to arrive in Flushing on March 25.
The Mont Gele, which was originally expected to arrive in Northwest Europe on its maiden transatlantic voyage from Houston, was rerouted to Korea earlier in the month.
That estimate is higher than the original vessels seen for the first half of March, when just one vessel was expected to arrive, but is down from February's estimate of 240,000 mt.
VLGCs crossing the Atlantic from the US Gulf Coast to Northwest Europe usually serve the propane market in the region, where the product is used for inland heating during winter and as a petrochemical feedstock.
Market players have said ample product is expected to arrive in the region for March, including additional cargoes heard to be expected from the US East Coast. Demand for that product is largely from petrochemical players, who use propane as an alternative feedstock when prices are competitive.
But market participants have said many petchem buyers have already hit at or near their maximum demand for propane, and further growth is unlikely, especially with a relatively short winter in Europe this year softening heating demand.
