OQ Trading Expands LNG Supply Role in Bangladesh: Implications for Omani Investors and Businesses
MUSCAT: OQ Trading International, the energy trading division of Oman’s OQ Group, has made a significant advancement in Bangladesh’s energy sector by signing the country’s inaugural short-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement. This landmark deal represents a strategic transformation in Bangladesh’s LNG sourcing strategy, aimed at enhancing energy security and decreasing reliance on the fluctuating spot market. Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL) has stated that the agreement is crucial for improving supply stability during peak demand periods.
RPGCL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petrobangla and the government’s agency for LNG imports, serves as OQ Trading’s official partner in Bangladesh.
The newly established Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) permits Bangladesh to import one LNG cargo monthly from August 2025 through December 2026, amounting to a total of 17 cargoes. This agreement is Bangladesh’s first short-term LNG relationship with any global supplier, complementing its existing long-term contracts.
As per the agreement, Bangladesh is set to receive five LNG cargoes in 2025 and 12 in 2026. The SPA also introduces a novel pricing structure, moving away from the traditional Brent crude-linked pricing model to one based on the Japan Korea Marker (JKM), which is commonly used for LNG shipments to Northeast Asia. Bangladesh will pay a premium of 15 cents per MMBtu above the JKM benchmark, providing an alternative to previous negotiations where suppliers sought premiums of up to 17% of Brent price plus fixed fees.
OQ Trading has been a prominent LNG supplier to Bangladesh, with its first long-term agreement, signed in 2018, continuing through 2029 and providing up to 1.5 million tonnes of LNG annually. A second long-term contract, established in 2023, will extend from 2026 to 2035, with Bangladesh scheduled to import 250,000 tonnes of LNG in 2026, 1 million tonnes in both 2027 and 2028, and 1.5 million tonnes each year from 2029 onward. As of June 2025, Bangladesh has received 124 LNG cargoes from OQ Trading, totaling approximately 7.74 million tonnes.
The new short-term agreement aims to alleviate Bangladesh’s dependence on expensive spot cargoes, which are often utilized to meet sudden spikes in demand—particularly in summer and during Ramadan. Spot market offers usually carry substantial premiums due to long validity periods and perceived payment risks, with mark-ups exceeding $1.50 per MMBtu above the JKM.
This strip contract with OQ Trading provides Bangladesh with a fixed premium pricing structure, insulating suppliers from market risks related to price volatility and tender uncertainties. Additionally, it offers much-needed flexibility ahead of increased deliveries under forthcoming long-term supply contracts.
In 2025, Bangladesh is expected to import around 52 spot cargoes—the highest volume in a single year. The deal with OQ Trading is anticipated to alleviate some of this pressure by securing a portion of supply under stable pricing terms.
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OQ Trading International’s landmark agreement to provide short-term LNG supply to Bangladesh marks significant opportunities for Oman’s energy sector to expand into new markets and enhance regional influence. This deal not only enhances supply stability for Bangladesh but also mitigates the volatility risks for OQ, showcasing the potential for innovative pricing mechanisms in the LNG market. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should consider leveraging such strategic partnerships and diversifying their portfolios to capitalize on similar emerging trends in energy markets.
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