Over the next 10 years, the LNG market is expected to be dominated by four to five major suppliers and will driven by by a fragmented demand pull from Asia.

That could change trade patterns and the picture for LNG shipping, according to broker and consultant Poten & Partners.

Forecasting manager Kristen Holmquist said on Wednesday that Poten sees LNG demand growing from 350m tonnes to 500m tonnes by 2031 with a shift to a more fragmented buying market comprising new entrants.