Bangladesh LNG Import Costs Surge Near $30/MMBtu, Tripling Nine-Month Lows
Dbarta24 Report — The government of Bangladesh has approved new purchases of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at rates as high as $29.795 per MMBtu—nearly triple the price paid just nine months ago—as international spot market prices continue an aggressive upward spiral.
The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) recommended the approval for importing a total of six LNG cargoes scheduled for delivery throughout October 2026.
The decision was made during the 44th committee meeting of the year, chaired virtually by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday, with the Ministry of Finance issuing the official release on Monday evening.
Cargo Allocations and Supplier Details
All three proposals approved during the session were submitted by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division. The imports comprise two cargoes sourced via the international open quotation process under Rule 105(3)(a) of the Public Procurement Rules 2025, alongside four cargoes secured through direct procurement.
| Cargo Window | Supplier | Origin | Procurement Method | Price per MMBtu (USD) |
| Oct 9–10 (52nd Cargo) | TotalEnergies Gas & Power Ltd | United Kingdom | International Quotation | $28.950 |
| Oct 27–28 (56th Cargo) | Vitol Asia Pte Ltd | Singapore | International Quotation | $29.795 |
| October Delivery (2 Cargoes) | Darab Inc. | United States | Direct Procurement | $17.000 |
| October Delivery (2 Cargoes) | Mind Mingle LLC | United States | Direct Procurement | $19.000 |
Rapid Escalation of Spot Market Rates
The latest peak of $29.795 per MMBtu reflects a sharp and continuous rise in Bangladesh’s emergency spot market purchases over recent weeks.
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Late August 2026: Approved price stood at $23.93 per MMBtu.
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August 24, 2026: Rates climbed to $24.63 per MMBtu.
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September 2, 2026: Import prices reached $28.03 per MMBtu.
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December 2025 (Baseline): The government acquired spot LNG for under $10.50 per MMBtu.
Within less than three quarters, the country’s spot LNG acquisition costs have virtually tripled.
Background and Implications
To maintain national power generation and industrial output ahead of autumn demand, the government has increasingly resorted to direct procurement alongside open bidding to average down overall import costs. While the direct procurement deals with US-based firms (at $17.00 and $19.00 per MMBtu) offer relative relief, the high cost of open-quotation spot cargoes highlights the volatility surrounding energy supply security.
As international gas markets remain constrained, the severe hike in import expenditure is expected to place significant pressure on national foreign exchange reserves and energy subsidy allocations in the coming quarters.
