India's state-run refiner HPCL has signed a 10-year LNG supply deal with Abu Dhabi's state-owned Adnoc Gas, the firm announced in an exchange filing on 2 August.
Adnoc Gas is set to supply 500,000 t/yr of LNG to HPCL starting from 2026 on a 12.5pc slope to Dated Brent, market participants told Argus. The LNG will be supplied from Adnoc Gas' 6mn t/yr Das Island liquefaction facility to HPCL's 5mn t/yr Chhara LNG terminal in the country's western state of Gujarat.
The deal will also cover supplies from the recent HPCL tender seeking 10 LNG cargoes for delivery over 2026-27.
The firm has been looking for supplies for March, April, October and November in 2026, as well as February, April, June, August, October and December in 2027 for the tender.
HPCL has been increasing supplies at its Chhara LNG terminal as it signed a five-year LNG supply deal with Adnoc Trading on Henry Hub-linked prices on a delivered basis. Supplies from this deal are set to start from October.
A fall in Brent prices in recent months has incentivised LNG importers to seek oil-linked contracts, marking a pivot from their recent interest in US Henry Hub-linked contracts.
India's Torrent Power recently signed a long-term LNG deal with BP for LNG supplies in 2027-36, priced at a 10.99pc slope to Brent, the lowest heard of for India in recent years, market participants said.
Brent prices averaged $72/bl in July, sharply lower from an average of $87/bl over the same time last year. US Henry Hub-linked prices have risen to an average of $3.30/mn Btu in July, against an average $2.2/mn Btu over the same period last year, Argus data show.
India's state-run gas distributor Gail has an ongoing tender to buy 110 LNG cargoes for delivery over 2027-36 with prices linked to Brent crude. Offers into the buy tender are expected to conclude in two stages, with the first round due by 24 July and the second round by 18 August.
Indian LNG importers have been planning their procurement strategies to safeguard themselves against LNG spot market volatility. This is likely to bring the share of Indian LNG spot purchases down from the current 40-45pc of total Indian imports for the next five years to just about 33-38pc, market participants told Argus.
India's spot LNG demand has mostly been weak this year because of elevated prices and the early onset of the monsoon season, which curbed power demand.
Argus assessed daily spot prices for August deliveries to west India averaged at $11.80/mn Btu, marginally higher from an average of $11.50/mn Btu over the same period last year.

