Hoegh LNG Partners' second quarter bested analyst expectations on the back of lower operating costs and higher earnings from its joint ventures.

The company, a spin-off of Norway's Hoegh LNG, reported on Thursday a $19.7m profit for the three months ending on 30 June, much better than the $6.2m profit posted for the same period last year.

The New York-listed gas carrier owner saw its vessel operating expenses drop from $9.1m