A cargo of LNG loaded in Australia is en route to South America in an unusual trade that has not been seen for the last four years.

Ship tracking experts said the 173,400-cbm Sevilla Knutsen (built 2010) left the Queensland Curtis LNG plant on 26 July.

The ship, which is on charter to energy major Shell, has arrived off the coast of Chile and is expected to dock at the Quintero LNG receiving terminal on 15 August.

One LNG vessel watcher speculated that the vessel may move on to load at the Peru LNG plant.

Eikland Energy data service iGIS/LNG told TradeWinds that this is the first shipment of Australian LNG to head eastbound to South America since 2016.

That is when a shipment on board the 160,000-cbm Cool Explorer (built 2014) was lifted from the Australia Pacific LNG plant and discharged in Argentina’s Bahia Blanca facility.

A report by independent consultant EnergyQuest issued on Wednesday said lower oil prices are having a “significant effect” on Australian LNG with revenues for July down 52% on the same month last year.

EnergyQuest cited extended plant maintenance, continued cargo deferrals, lower gas prices and asset write-downs as the reasons for the fall in returns.

The consultant said Australian LNG shipments in July were steady compared with June with projects shipping 5.8m tonnes or 85 cargoes in July, compared with 5.9m tonnes and a similar number of shipments in June.

But it said cargoes continued to be delayed last month but at lower levels.

EnergyQuest estimates that of the 85 Australian cargoes loaded during 21 July have anchored offshore or are steaming slowly awaiting final destination orders.

It said 33 were delayed in June and 41 during May.