Spot rates for LNG carriers have increased sharply and are expected to continue to rise, according to broker and consultant Poten & Partners.

Poten’s global head of business intelligence Jason Feer said the LNG shipping market is following a fairly typical winter pattern where availability of vessels is falling, albeit at a slightly lower rate than in previous years.

But he cautioned that the market remains “structurally long” with a 20% increase in the fleet expected over the next two years.