Argentina is seeking to acquire liquefied natural gas cargoes in anticipation of the forthcoming winter heating season, thereby contributing to a market that is already under pressure due to the conflict in Iran. State-run Energía Argentina SA is evaluating the acquisition of up to 20 LNG cargoes by October in preparation for the Southern Hemisphere winter, as reported. Last week, the company known as Enarsa submitted a request to purchase three cargoes for the latter half of May. Earlier this month, the firm acquired its inaugural cargo for the year. In the region, winter commences in May and generally persists until September.
A representative from Argentina’s energy department, responsible for overseeing Enarsa’s fuel procurement, did not provide a response to a request for comment. Traders are meticulously observing the demand for LNG, given that supply from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates has been constrained due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the damage sustained by Qatar’s Ras Laffan export facility in March. Argentina’s heating consumption occurs concurrently with Asian and Northern Hemisphere buyers actively procuring the fuel to compensate for disrupted supplies and meet peak summer cooling demands. Argentina has experienced a downward trend in LNG imports over the past several years, attributed to increased drilling activities in the Vaca Muerta shale formation and the ongoing construction of pipelines designed to facilitate gas transportation to both industrial and residential areas.
In the long run, Argentina is positioned to emerge as an LNG exporter; however, it may still require some imports to address spikes in winter consumption. Enarsa imported 24 LNG cargoes in 2025, spanning from April to August, as indicated by ship-tracking data. While constrained supply due to the conflict is likely to elevate prices for Argentina in the forthcoming bids, the effect on the nation’s energy trade balance is anticipated to be counterbalanced by increased revenues from shale oil exports.