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Нефтетранспорт - «СГ-транс»: рынок СУГ адаптируется к новым реалиям

  • Market: LPG
  • 14/11/23

Основным направлением экспорта сжиженного углеводородного газа (СУГ) из России остается Европа. О переориентировании объемов на новые маршруты из-за возможного запрета на импорт российского СУГ в Евросоюз (ЕС), а также о ситуации с вагоностроением и производством комплектующих в России рассказал Argus генеральный директор компании «СГ-транс» Сергей Калетин.

— Как изменилась логистика российского СУГ в 2023 г.?

— Традиционно основным рынком сбыта российских углеводородов остается Европа. На данный момент в направлении стран ЕС идет около 80% всех экспортных поставок СУГ из России. После прекращения отправок через Украину продукция европейским потребителям направляется либо по сухопутному маршруту через Белоруссию и Польшу, либо морем — через порт Усть-Луги (Ленинградская обл.) в Нидерланды и далее до места назначения.

Но общая тенденция разворота логистики на восток четко прослеживается и в нашем достаточно консервативном сегменте. Перевозки СУГ парком «СГ-транс» через погранпереходы Забайкальск — Маньчжурия (Китай), Камышовая (Приморский край) — Хуньчунь (Китай), Наушки (Бурятия) — Сухэ-Батор (Монголия) в первом полугодии выросли почти на 60% к аналогичному периоду прошлого года. Через Забайкальск сейчас едут грузы основных грузоотправителей — Иркутской нефтяной компании (ИНК), «Лукойла», «Роснефти» и «Сибур Холдинга».

Из-за загруженности Восточного полигона, объединяющего Красноярскую, Восточно-Сибирскую, Забайкальскую и Дальневосточную железные дороги, прорабатываем и другие варианты логистики СУГ. В частности, растут поставки углеводородов через Казахстан — в Киргизию, Таджикистан, Иран. Есть интерес к экспорту в страны Средней Азии. По данным из открытых источников, в январе — июле этого года российские компании направили в Афганистан 120 тыс. т СУГ. Это больше чем за весь прошлый год, когда было отгружено 104 тыс. т газа. В 2021 г. сжиженные углеводороды из России в Афганистан не экспортировались.

— На какие рынки переориентируются экспортеры?

— Если в какой-то момент Евросоюз внесет СУГ в санкционные списки — а разговоры об этом ведутся, — нам придется выбрать направления, чтобы переориентировать на них грузовые потоки. Это примерно 2 млн т/год. Просчитывать варианты нужно уже сейчас, чтобы подготовиться к неблагоприятному развитию событий.

В первом полугодии 2023 г. Тамань (Краснодарский край) была основным экспортным каналом на юге России, но терминал для перевалки СУГ в гавани законсервировали на неопределенное время. Поэтому на эти мощности рассчитывать не приходится.

На востоке есть большой и быстро растущий рынок Азии, где наблюдается спрос на российские углеводороды. Но нужно учитывать высокую конкуренцию за пропускные способности. В какой-то момент на восток поехало буквально все — уголь, нефтеналивные грузы, грузы в контейнерах. Кроме того, на Дальнем Востоке остро стоит вопрос с терминальной инфраструктурой для перевалки СУГ. Очевидно, что этим нужно заниматься и развивать это направление.

Еще один резерв, который мы можем использовать, — максимально задействовать мощности погранперехода Забайкальск — Маньчжурия на границе России и Китая. Потенциально Забайкальск способен пропускать до 2 млн т/год СУГ. Однако сегодня загружается 10% от этого объема из-за технологии передачи цистерн на китайскую сторону, а точнее, из-за требования формировать составы с вагонами прикрытия. Так, чтобы подать 18 цистерн с СУГ, нужно почти 40 вагонов прикрытия. Для РЖД такая работа невыгодна, потому что состав, который приходит на станцию Забайкальск, стоит и занимает пути в течение 5—6 суток. При этом еще нужно найти порожние вагоны, чтобы обеспечить требуемое прикрытие. За те же 5—6 суток на станции можно принять минимум 10 контейнерных поездов.

Мы сейчас ищем разные возможности для того, чтобы изменить подход к передаче вагонов в Китай. Работаем со всеми заинтересованными сторонами, включая администрацию Харбина (33% терминала принадлежит Харбинским железным дорогам) и Российский союз промышленников и предпринимателей (РСПП). Делаем все, чтобы технологию пересмотрели и в этом направлении пошли более высокие объемы СУГ.

— Какие точки роста грузовой базы вы видите?

— Если говорить про наш основной сегмент СУГ, то на горизонте ближайших трех лет ожидается рост грузовой базы. Со следующего года Иркутская нефтяная компания планирует выйти на расчетные мощности в 800 тыс. т/год. После 2025 г. ожидается запуск Амурского ГПЗ, для нужд которого может потребоваться свыше 3 тыс. цистерн. Есть еще перспективные проекты разработки Харасавэйского и Бованенковского месторождений, которые, как предполагается, принесут около 1 млн т сжиженных углеводородов. Это уже перспектива 2026 г. Примерно тогда же ожидается запуск установки замедленного коксования на Киришском НПЗ, это выведет на рынок дополнительно еще более 200 тыс. т/год СУГ. Пока планы такие, хотя в текущей ситуации очень сложно заглядывать так далеко.

— Достаточно ли имеющихся в России вагоностроительных мощностей для покрытия ожидаемого дефицита газового и нефтебензинового парка?

— В начале сентября в России была принята Сводная стратегия обрабатывающей промышленности до 2035 г., которая включает в том числе и вагоностроение. Согласно этому документу, до 2030 г. ежегодно будет производиться 58 тыс. вагонов, а с 2030 г. — 66 тыс. единиц. В целом мы видим, что сейчас выбытие парка меньше, чем строительство. Однако это не касается специализированного подвижного состава, и в таких сегментах вагонов не хватает.

— С чем связан дефицит специализированного парка?

— Парк вагонов на сети РЖД достиг рекордных цифр в 1,37 млн единиц. Это очень много, о чем операторам регулярно сигнализируют в госкомпании. В августе на панельной дискуссии «PRO//Движение.Экспо» заместитель генерального директора РЖД Михаил Глазков обратил внимание на то, что избыток парка составляет почти 200 тыс. вагонов. В нашем сегменте перевозок СУГ, напротив, ощущается нехватка газовых цистерн.

Есть две основные причины дефицита специализированного парка для СУГ: увеличение транспортного плеча из-за разворота грузовых потоков и рост оборота вагонов. Дальность груженого рейса у нас выросла с 1,9 тыс. км до 2,2 тыс. км, а оборачиваемость в условиях загруженности сети увеличилась с 24—25 суток до 32 дней. А рост оборота вагонов на 30% означает рост потребности в парке на 30% для вывоза продукции.

В общесетевых масштабах парк цистерн для СУГ относительно невелик — 37,2 тыс. единиц. Почти 63% из них принадлежат «СГ-транс» и Нефтехимической транспортной компании (НХТК, наше совместное предприятие с «Сибур Холдингом» в равных долях). В ближайшие три года у нас будет списано 2,2 тыс. цистерн в связи с истечением срока службы. А потребность в парке, как мы видим, будет только расти по мере ввода в эксплуатацию дополнительных производственных мощностей.

Покупка новых вагонов сегодня обойдется очень дорого, и срок их окупаемости не очевиден. Цена на цистерны для СУГ выросла с 4,4 млн руб. без НДС в 2020 г. до порядка 7 млн руб. без НДС в текущем году. И это не предел. При этом нужно учитывать повышение стоимости заемного финансирования после увеличения Центробанком ключевой процентной ставки до 15% годовых.

Возможно, поддержку операторам в виде субсидирования могло бы оказать государство, как это было в 2014 г. Тогда ситуация была похожая. Я думаю, многие помнят, как в 2013 г. вагоностроители массово выпускали подвижной состав и стоимость парка росла. Что произошло потом, тоже хорошо известно: в три раза упали ставки на аренду полувагонов и потащили за собой весь рынок. По оценкам экспертов, к этому привело перенасыщение рынка вагонами, купленными по высоким ценам, снижение погрузки, сокращение инвестиций. Сейчас, конечно, ставки до тех значений не дойдут, но ситуация опасная — рынок перегрет.

— Как вы оцениваете ситуацию на рынке комплектующих для танк-контейнеров? Внутреннее производство покрывает потребности строительства и ремонта?

— Ситуация с обеспечением комплектующими и запчастями для ремонта танк-контейнеров стабилизировалась относительно прошлого года.

В России появились новые производители уплотнительных материалов, которые заявляют о готовности заместить продукцию зарубежных поставщиков. Это, безусловно, позитивный момент. Однако мы по-прежнему сталкиваемся с определенными проблемами. Качество уплотнителей отечественного производства не всегда отвечает требованиям нашей компании и международных стандартов. Второй момент — допуски размеров. Даже небольшое отклонение приводит к резкому снижению качества ремонта либо делает использование уплотнительных материалов и вовсе невозможным.

Некоторые компании, которые являлись официальными представителями зарубежных производителей в России, сегодня вышли из-под влияния прежних владельцев и объединили в своих руках цепочки поставок материалов нескольких производителей. Они стали практически единственным поставщиком продукции в стране. Кажется, что работа через одно окно удобна для потребителей, но это удобство обманчиво. Цены контролировать сложнее, конкуренция практически отсутствует.

В настоящее время «СГ-транс» активно разрабатывает вариант производства базовых уплотнений для широкого ряда запорно-предохранительной арматуры на базе собственной инфраструктуры. Нам это делать несколько проще, чем сторонним производствам, потому что мы понимаем требования, предъявляемые к материалам и качеству их изготовления, и можем производить доработку изделий, доводя их до совершенства. Плюс к этому, учитывая, что производство уплотнителей размещается на базе наших ремонтно-испытательных пунктов, материальные и временные затраты на доставку готовых изделий к местам проведения работ сведены к нулю.

В то же время, если вернуться к вопросу обеспечения запчастями и деталями, еще есть позиции, где по-прежнему требуются поставки из-за рубежа.

«СГ-транс»

Один из крупнейших в России собственников специализированного подвижного состава для перевозки СУГ и продуктов нефтехимии. «СГ-транс» имеет долгосрочные соглашения с крупнейшими отраслевыми грузоотправителями, в том числе «Сибур Холдингом», «Роснефтью», «Газпром нефтью» и «Газпромом». На базе собственных ремонтно-испытательных пунктов (РИП) и механизированных пунктов выполняются работы по текущему отцепочному ремонту грузовых вагонов компании «СГ-транс» и парка сторонних собственников, а также производятся техническое обслуживание и ремонт танк-контейнеров для транспортировки СУГ и химических грузов.

Сергей Калетин

Родился 11 октября 1965 г. в Челябинске. Окончил Уральский электромеханический институт инженеров железнодорожного транспорта. Более 23 лет работал на различных должностях на Южно-Уральской железной дороге, филиале РЖД.

В 2006—2008 гг. занимал должность первого заместителя начальника департамента вагонного хозяйства РЖД. С 2008 г. по 2014 г. был заместителем генерального директора по техническому развитию Первой грузовой компании. В 2014—2015 гг. являлся старшим вице-президентом — главным инженером компании «СГ-транс». С 2015 г. по настоящее время — генеральный директор компании.


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17/10/25

Kenya makes strides in LPG expansion but hurdles remain

Kenya makes strides in LPG expansion but hurdles remain

London, 17 October (Argus) — The Global LPG Partnership (GLPGP) is a UN-backed non-profit organisation formed in 2012 to support developing countries scale up access to LPG for clean cooking. Elizabeth Muchiri is the organisation's director for east Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya, and has participated in a variety of state-backed projects in Kenya and across the region. Argus' Yasmin Zaman spoke with Muchiri to discuss the Kenyan market and plans to establish Kenya as an important African LPG hub: What is the status of Kenya's LPG market expansion? Kenya's LPG market has made notable progress over the past few years, although per capita consumption remains below the government's ambitions. Current levels are around 7 kg/yr compared with a target of 15 kg/yr. Demand has risen steadily, to 415,000t in 2024 from 326,000t in 2020, with fluctuations along the way in 2021 and 2022. When these totals are divided by population, the per capita figure shows slow but consistent growth, suggesting that LPG is gradually gaining ground as a mainstream household fuel. Nairobi dominates the market, consuming an estimated 60pc of volumes, while Mombasa and other regions lag behind. Unfortunately, no reliable data exist on the urban–rural split, although adoption is clearly concentrated in cities. The government has set a 2028 target for universal clean cooking access, with LPG expected to account for half. Compared with its neighbours, Kenya leads — Tanzania's per capita use is around 3 kg/yr and Uganda's is less than 1 kg/yr. How does Kenya's LPG market differ from others in the region? Kenya's LPG market is the most advanced in east Africa and one of the most complex. Unlike neighbouring countries, where consumer bases are still small, Kenya has seen widespread entry of private players, with around 80 marketers operating in the sector. This fragmentation is in stark contrast to the situation just a few years ago, when the market was dominated by five key firms, when the government created a mandatory cylinder exchange pool. The exchange system allowed consumers to buy a refill of any available cylinder by exchanging the empty cylinder at the retail outlet. The regulations allowed branded cylinders to be exchanged among the marketers, with each marketer still refilling and marketing [their] own cylinders. But the system weakened as more companies entered, with some marketers failing to give the cylinders to the owners and illegally refilling them instead. The mandatory exchange ended in 2019, but the practice continues in the market, impacting investment and raising safety concerns. Despite this challenge, Kenya's scale and demand have made it the regional leader, whereas countries such as Tanzania and Uganda are only beginning to see meaningful adoption. What have been the main successes and challenges in the past two years? The past two years have brought both innovation and frustration for Kenya's LPG sector. On the positive side, the most visible success has been the rise of autogas. Thousands of vehicles, particularly in Nairobi, have been converted to run on LPG, and new autogas-only filling stations are emerging alongside traditional petrol stations. Industry estimates suggest as many as 15,000 vehicles may already be using the fuel, although official figures are hard to come by. Importantly, this growth has been entirely market-driven, with no government incentives. Another notable success has been the widespread growth of pay-as-you-cook LPG, which started in low-income areas of Nairobi and has now moved to peri-urban areas of other towns. The biggest challenge is the continuation of the mutual cylinder exchange system, which encourages illegal refilling. Illegal refilling deters investment in new cylinders, as marketers are unwilling to increase cylinders only for others to refill. Although domestic LPG use has risen, much of the overall growth in 2024 has been driven by autogas rather than household consumption. Competition from electric vehicles is also beginning to reshape the energy transition landscape. Have supportive government policies such as tax cuts made a difference? Policy changes have been a key factor in shaping Kenya's LPG market, especially the removal of VAT on LPG, which has helped stabilise prices and improve affordability. The VAT history has been turbulent — [LPG] was first zero-rated in 2005, reinstated at 16pc in 2013, then scrapped again in 2016. In 2022, VAT on LPG was reintroduced at 8pc, but lasted only that year. A proposal to bring it back was eventually dropped. This consistency has lowered costs for households, particularly low-income earners, and provided certainty for marketers. In addition, the government's efforts to distribute cylinders to vulnerable households have broadened access and encouraged new users to adopt LPG. While these measures have not been sufficient to meet the government's targets, they have laid important groundwork for further growth. The combination of fiscal support and consumer-focused initiatives has improved affordability, but challenges remain around sustainability, long-term refill uptake, and the ability of new users to continue using LPG regularly. What more can be done to expand use into rural areas? Rural adoption of LPG in Kenya has been growing, largely thanks to the entry of multiple marketers and the availability of smaller, affordable cylinders. The 6kg cylinder, typically sold with a screw-type burner and tripod, has become a popular option for low-income households. This package has made LPG accessible in regions where affordability and transportability are major barriers. But pricing remains highly fragmented, with retail prices ranging from 190 shillings/kg [$1.47/kg] to KSh230/kg, depending on the seller. With no price controls, both branded companies and informal operators compete on the open market, which can confuse consumers and raise safety concerns. Expanding adoption further will require stabilising supply chains, extending safe distribution networks into rural areas, and building trust through consumer education. Greater enforcement against illegal operators could also help protect households and foster investment in the sector. Why did the Mwananchi project fail to deliver on expectations? The Mwananchi Gas Project, launched in 2016, aimed to distribute 6kg cylinders to low-income households but has struggled to achieve its intended impact. Records indicate that just 5,444 out of 161,448 cylinders were refilled within the first year. Still, the project has clearly not scaled as planned. Recently, the government signalled that the scheme may be revived through a public-private partnership, with the private sector expected to take a stronger operational role. What role could Kenya's plan to increase LPG usage in schools play? The LPG schools programme represents an important step in Kenya's clean cooking strategy, aiming to reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal in public schools. By introducing bulk LPG systems, the scheme not only improves the health and safety of school kitchens but also helps tackle deforestation. But implementation has been slower than anticipated, largely because of the financing and logistical demands of installation. Each school must undergo a safety audit, site verification, and design process all while daily operations continue. This makes conversion to LPG a gradual process. Although the government has taken ownership of the programme, private-sector firms were already piloting similar initiatives and many continue to support schools in their transition. The challenge remains the pace of funding and execution, but the long-term benefits make it a critical part of Kenya's clean energy push. Kenya LPG imports, exports Kenya LPG demand by sector Kenya LPG imports 2025 Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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14/10/25

Dangote supply shock knocks Nigeria LPG demand growth

Uncertainty over stable supply has led some in the country's LPG industry to rethink their demand growth projections, writes Adebiyi Olusolape Lagos, 14 October (Argus) — Nigerian LPG market participants recently backed domestic demand to reach a new high of 2mn t this year thanks to the emergence of cheap supply from the 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery. But technical issues following maintenance at the refinery in August-September may have knocked these hopes off course, creating supply uncertainty over the final quarter of 2025. The Dangote refinery's 285,000 b/d residual fluid catalytic cracker (RFCC) — which produces LPG — came back on line in early October, company spokesman Anthony Chiejina said on 10 October , confirming local sources that had pointed to LPG sales resuming. The unit remained shut down in September and the start of October after a two-week planned shutdown in August. Dangote's total products supply for the domestic market stood at about 126,000 b/d, downstream regulator NMDPRA said on 9 October, adding that Nigeria needs to develop strategic stocks to "provide a buffer against major supply disruptions". The refiner supplied about 155,000 b/d in July and 179,000 b/d in April, NMDPRA data show. Dangote can provide about 9,500 b/d, or nearly 300,000 t/yr, of LPG for the domestic market, reserving 19,500 b/d for its 840,000 t/yr polypropylene (PP) unit, the firm says. But it has supplied as much as 17,400 b/d this year because the PP unit is yet to start up. LPG sales averaged around 11,000 b/d in the first half of the year, market participants say. A truck drivers' strike on 8-10 September over Dangote's resistance to unionising its drivers and another by oil workers on 28 September-1 October when the refiner laid off 800 staff have also disrupted sales. The unplanned downtime and strikes drove LPG distributors that had abandoned buying from Lagos-based Pan Ocean's Ovade gas processing plant, which produces about 2,200 b/d of LPG, this year to return in August-September, pushing loading waiting time at Ovade from two days to four weeks. Nigerian LPG import terminals have also reduced purchases owing to growing competition with Dangote, terminal operator Rainoil Gas' managing director Emmanuel Omuojine says. And state-owned Nigeria LNG, which previously dominated in terms of domestic LPG supply, has also cut its availability on account of lower feedgas intake and price competition with Dangote, Omuojine says. Only the three largest Nigerian LPG import terminals had product to sell in the first week of October, LPG consultant Godwin Okoduwa says. The still-reduced RFCC operations at Dangote and a backlog of unfilled orders from August has resulted in trucking rates from the refinery increasing to four times longer than the 45 minutes/truck at coastal terminals, Okoduwa says. Export paradox The supply headache comes just after Omuojine told a conference held by Nigeria's last-mile distributors association NALPGAMin late September that Nigeria's LPG demand would reach around 2mn t in 2025 for the first time. The supply shock has knocked that projection off, he now says. Domestic LPG consumption could have increased to around 2.5mn-2.6mn t this year had it not been for the continuing export of supplies along with other issues, another terminal operator AYM Shafa's gas director, Teryima Toryila, said at the event. Nigeria introduced a conditional ban on LPG exports and a plan to develop facilities to "blend, store and deliver LPG domestically within 12 months" from 1 November 2024. But 11 cargoes averaging 27,000t have been exported from state-owned NNPC and Chevron's Escravos joint venture this year, a local industry source says. Toryila said NNPC's plans to domesticate some of these cargoes and make them available for use in Nigeria have stalled. Nigeria's government has . "I don't think we can achieve that by 2030. So, I'll push that to 2032–33," Omuojine says, citing the supply-side challenges. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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IMF upgrades global economic outlook


14/10/25
News
14/10/25

IMF upgrades global economic outlook

Washington, 14 October (Argus) — The IMF is upgrading its global economic growth forecast for 2025 and 2026, but the economic rationale for the upward revision preceded the most recent episode of US-China trade tensions. The IMF, in its latest World Economic Outlook released Tuesday, forecasts the global economy will grow by 3.2pc in 2025 and 3.1pc in 2026. That compares with the 3pc growth for 2025 that the IMF was expecting just three months ago. IMF forecasts are used by many economists, including OECD watchdog the IEA, to model oil demand projections. "The increase in tariffs and its effect has been smaller than expected so far," IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said. The IMF forecast is based on data available as of late September. In recent days, trade tensions flared up again between the US and China. The possibility of further escalation in trade tensions across the globe is part of the IMF outlook. "The US statutory effective tariff rate remains high, and trade tensions continue to flare up with no guarantee yet on lasting trade agreements," Gourinchas said. By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Regulatory concerns cloud Brazil LPG scheme launch


01/10/25
News
01/10/25

Regulatory concerns cloud Brazil LPG scheme launch

The government must provide clarity soon as some companies are holding back investment until regulations are in place, writes Lucas Parolin Sao Paulo, 1 October (Argus) — The Brazilian government's Gas do Povo programme will significantly boost LPG demand in the country if it is introduced as planned in November. But the domestic market is still waiting for clarity on proposed regulatory changes, which some suggest could promote illegal practices and impede investment, delegates heard during Liquid Gas Week in Rio de Janeiro over 22-26 September. Gas do Povo — which translates to "people's gas" and is also known as Gas for All — is a subsidy scheme that was launched last month and will provide free LPG to low-income families in off-grid areas of Brazil. It will supersede the outgoing Auxilio Gas programme, targeting a further 15.5mn homes, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to about 21mn. The goal is to reduce these families' reliance on wood and charcoal for cooking. The scheme will start in November, with capacity expected to be reached in March. The programme alone will increase LPG sales by 5-8pc, Brazilian LPG association Sindigas president Sergio Bandeira de Mellosaid on the sidelines of the event. But a new proposal by hydrocarbons regulator ANP to allow the refilling of 13kg gas cylinders remotely and in small increments may hinder investments and open the gates for organised crime, market participants said. The plan is to enable customers to take a cylinder to a refilling site and only buy a desired amount of LPG rather than a complete refill or a replacement cylinder from a retail outlet. This will help to lower LPG prices and allow lower-income families to purchase smaller volumes at a cost more in line with their household budget, according to ANP. But market participants see flaws in the plan. "If anybody can use anybody's cylinder, you run the risk of bringing organised crime to the distribution chain," de Mello said. The change would also permit new participants to enter the market without investing in new cylinders, he added. Allowing the purchase of fractional amounts of LPG additionally introduces higher costs for market participants, Carlos Ragazzo, a law professor at think-tank Fundacao Getulio Vargas, said. This incentivises participants to seek ways to reduce costs. "There's a huge incentive… to not act correctly," he said, such as circumventing safety rules or avoiding taxes. The resale of LPG cylinders at premiums to official retail rates in areas dominated by criminal gangs is one of the main sources of income for Brazilian drug traffickers, ANP supply monitoring superintendent Ary Sergio told delegates. ANP is focused on ways to identify how the cylinders have ended up in the hands of criminal groups, he added. Regulation time ANP's main focus right now is regulation under Gas do Povo, director Artur Watt said. The agency is still waiting to receive information from the mines and energy ministry but the regulation can still emerge "in a timely manner", he said. But decisions need to be made now, according to de Mello, because companies are "indisputably" holding back investment in cylinders until the regulations are in place. "March is the deadline for the programme to be fully operational," he said. "So, ideally, for private companies, this [regulation] will be fully approved and the law sanctioned before [legislative] recess." Brazil's legislative branch begins its recess in December, with activities returning in February. Brazilian distributor Ultragaz is waiting for the regulations to be put in place and is hoping that the process is resolved quickly, chief executive Tabajara Bertelli Costa said. But the government may still choose to oppose ANP's proposals. Brasilia always seeks to ensure that policies "provide stability to investments", mines and energy minister Alexandre Silveira said, while calling for "common sense, so that we always have legal stability to attract investments for LPG". Brazil LPG supply Brazil LPG demand Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Brazil LPG imports to rise to meet Gas do Povo demand


01/10/25
News
01/10/25

Brazil LPG imports to rise to meet Gas do Povo demand

Imports will be able to meet the subsidy scheme's extra demand, but the country also faces the problem of sourcing more LPG cylinders, writes Gabriel Lara Sao Paulo, 1 October (Argus) — Brazilian distributors will import additional LPG mainly from the US to meet the expected growth in demand brought about by the government's incoming Gas do Povo subsidy scheme, companies said on the sidelines of Liquid Gas Week in Rio de Janeiro over 22-26 September. The country's four main distributors — Copa Energia, Nacional Gas, Supergasbras and Ultragaz — account for nearly 90pc of the domestic market and have already confirmed that demand under the programme will be met by LPG imports. This will come from countries other than the US, most notably from nearby Argentina. But US LPG is expected to make up the majority given abundant and growing export availability from the country's Gulf coast and its geographic proximity to Brazilian LPG terminals, most of which are located in the northeast. Ultragaz will import LPG for the scheme from the US, chief executive Tabajara Bertelli Costa said on the sidelines of the event. Nacional Gas also plans to import supply from the US as well as Argentina and Bolivia, while Supergasbras confirmed that state-controlled Petrobras could not raise domestic production by enough to meet new demand. Copa Energia, Brazil's largest company, said its demand will probably be met by imports from Argentina. Brazil consumed around 7.6mn t of LPG in 2024, of which around 1.7mn t was imported, with 55pc coming from the US, regulator ANP data show, arriving at Suape and Santos. Domestic demand is expected to grow by 5-8pc owing to the Gas do Povo programme, leading to greater import dependency, according to LPG association Sindigias president Sergio Bandeira de Mello. Gas do Povo was launched in September and is due to start from November, reaching full implementation by March 2026. Under the scheme, more than 15mn qualifying low-income homes in off-grid areas will receive vouchers to purchase free LPG cylinders, in a bid to reduce the use of harmful wood and charcoal for cooking. Lack of bottle Brazil should be able to bring in sufficient LPG to meet Gas do Povo's demand but may lack the necessary cylinders to do so, market participants said at the event. The country may need as many as 5mn-10mn new cylinders by March, de Mello said. But regulatory uncertainty surrounding the programme is preventing distributors from placing new cylinder orders domestically, and the limited timeframe may force them to buy them overseas, delegates heard. Ultragaz and fellow distributor Copagaz are considering importing cylinders from Chinese companies. Brazilian cylinder manufacturers would have to more than double production to meet the new demand, Copa Energia chief executive Pedro Turqueto said. Ultragaz plans to buy most of its new cylinders domestically but is also considering purchasing them from abroad, including from China, Bertellisaid. ANP is still waiting for the government to provide the subsidy budget and guidelines so it can define cylinder inspection criteria. The government expects to distribute the LPG cylinders under the scheme in November and reach all of the homes and a total of 50mn people covered by March next year, but regulatory delays could postpone these goals. LPG distributors are reluctant to place orders for additional cylinders given the uncertainty. A substantial increase in demand is needed to justify investment and prevent surplus cylinder capacity — a concern if the government does not extend the subsidy beyond 2026. The two main independent cylinder manufacturers in Brazil, Mangels and Aratell, said they have the capacity and enough available steel to deliver the additional cylinders but would require delivery times of at least six months. Meeting demand for 10mn new cylinders would probably take closer to a year. Brazilian LPG market share Brazil LPG imports by origin Brazil LPG imports by terminal, 2024 Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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