The UP World LNG Shipping Index surged 2.65% to close at 194.53 points, marking another week of powerful gains and bringing the index within just 6 points of the historic 200-point milestone. Combined with the previous week’s 3.3% advance, the index has now gained nearly 6% over the past fortnight, significantly outpacing the S&P 500’s 1.07% weekly gain. Most notably, last week’s rally was remarkably broad-based, with 19 stocks rising against just one decliner, while the previous week saw 14 gainers and six losers. This balanced participation across virtually all constituents signals healthy, sustainable growth rather than a rally driven by a handful of breakout stocks.
Last week’s standout was Tsakos Energy Navigation, which posted a 9.99% gain, narrowly missing the double-digit mark. A cluster of five companies posted gains of 5% to 6.5%: Korea Line Corporation (now up for seven consecutive weeks), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Flex LNG, Golar LNG, and Dynagas LNG Partners. Both Flex LNG and Golar LNG broke above key resistance levels, though Golar’s move came on below-average volume. Flex LNG’s quarterly results confirmed strong fundamentals with its 18th consecutive $0.75 dividend, though the February 27 ex-dividend date may trigger short-term weakness. The previous week saw two companies achieve double-digit growth: Excelerate Energy surged 12.75% to new all-time highs, while Capital Clean Energy Carriers gained 11.09%. Both continued their momentum last week, with Excelerate adding 0.74% and CCEC rising 1.58%. The sole decliner last week was ADNOC Logistics & Services, which broke support below, down 3.88%. Spot rates and gas prices have stabilised, but geopolitical risks remain elevated. The long-term outlook remains positive, supported by steam vessel scrapping and new liquefaction capacity additions.
UPI & SPX
The UP World LNG Shipping Index, which tracks listed LNG shipping companies, gained 5.02 points (2.65%), closing at 194.53 points, while the S&P 500 index gained 1.07%. A week before, UPI gained over 3.3%. The chart below illustrates the performance of both indices with weekly data.
Week 8-2026: Chart of the UP World LNG Shipping Index with S&P 500 (Source: UP-Indices)
Broader View
UPI continues its strong New Year growth without interruption and is only 6 points below the 200-point mark. A very positive sign is the balanced involvement of virtually all companies; growth is not driven by a few stocks “breaking away.”
The first quarter is, of course, one of the highlights of the LNG season, but circumstances we often mention play a significant role in growth, such as the end of the dead period (concerns about global fleet overcapacity associated with the fall in spot rates), the growth in the number of liquefaction units, the decommissioning of first-generation tankers, and the maturity of the LNG sector, as demonstrated after Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
The past two weeks have again seen above-average trading volumes, despite the Chinese New Year celebrations. The week before last saw 14 stocks rise and six fall, while last week the ratio was 19:1. The median growth was 1.59% and 2.02%.
Spot rates and gas prices have stabilised, but geopolitics remains a growing risk.
Constituents
Two companies achieved double-digit growth the week before last: Excelerate Energy (NYSE: EE, +12.75%) and Capital Clean Energy Carriers (NYQ: CCEC, +11.09%). Excelerate Energy continues to reach new all-time highs, adding another 0.74% last week. CCEC is trading within a sideways range and still has a few points to go before reaching resistance, although the company grew again last week by 1.58%.
Double-digit growth was not achieved last week, but only narrowly. Tsakos Energy Navigation (NYSE: TEN) continued its growth trend, adding 9.99%. It closed at its June 2024 highs. Volume increased, but the average was unchanged.
Last week’s growth was more balanced. A large number of companies grew by 5 to 6 per cent: Korea Line Corporation (KRX: 005880, +6.47%), Mitsui O.S.K Lines (TSE: 9104, +5.86%), FLEX LNG (NYSE: FLNG, +5.77), Golar LNG (NYQ: GLNG, +5.41%), and Dynagas LNG Partners (NYSE: DLNG, +5.15%). The week before last, only two companies moved within this range: COSCO Energy Shipping Transportation (SS: 600026, +6.14%) and Korea Line Corporation (+5.87%).
Korea Line Corporation has been rising for seven weeks in a row. MOL is approaching resistance and will test whether it can break the sideways trend that has persisted since the beginning of 2024. Flex LNG and Golar LNG also rose above resistance, but Golar did so on below-average volume. We also discussed its inconspicuous preparations for growth in January. Flex closed above resistance, although a short shadow remains. February 27 is the record date for dividend payments, which will undoubtedly lead to a weakening, especially since the quarterly call did not provide any specific information about new long-term contracts. Nevertheless, its cash cushion offers no-doubt dividend payments. Despite strengthening, Dynagas LNG is struggling to find its next direction, or rather, is testing whether there is enough appetite for further growth. So far, the price has been knocked down from above $4.1, but above-average volume shows that the battle is still ongoing.
The two remaining Japanese companies achieved 3% growth. “K” Line (TSE: 9107) strengthened by 3.75%, and NYK Line (TSE: 9101) by 3.29%. “K” Line closed above the 2024 resistance level and now has room to move towards the 2700 yen mark, where the next, and this time final, resistance level awaits. NYK Line continues its sideways trend, but its resistance levels are significantly closer, starting at 5320 yen and reaching 5600 yen. The first of these has been tested several times and will be more difficult to overcome. However, with the current trend in Japanese stocks, both companies have a good chance of doing so.
The remaining gains last week were around 2 per cent or lower. We want to mention the nice trend in MISC (KLSE: 3816), though gains are often pared back during the week, so the growth is not smooth. However, after breaking through resistance, it has been going on for 4 weeks.
Awilco LNG (OSE: ALNG) has also been rising over the last two weeks, which is likely related to the stabilisation and strengthening of spot rates. The company grew by 6.6% the week before last and added 2.3% last week.
Chevron (NYSE: CVX) also continues to grow, but after a 1.6% increase, it added only 0.1% last week, and wicks and shadows are appearing, indicating pressure on the direction of movement. We therefore expect a short correction in growth.
Nakilat (QSE: QGTS) is quietly strengthening, having reached resistance. It will be interesting to see whether it attempts to break through. Shell (NYSE: SHEL) has also been above resistance for several weeks.
We will quickly cover last week’s declines, as they affect only ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADX: ADNOCLS). The company broke through support last week, losing 3.88%.
A week earlier, losses were also moderate and few. New Fortress Energy (NYSE: NFE) lost the most, falling 3.17%, a very moderate move given its current volatility. BP (NYSE: BP) followed with a 3.46% loss, up 1.38% last week.
Crystal Ball
Our outlook remains positive in the long term. The scrapping of steam vessels and the addition of new liquefaction capacity are pushing the sector higher.
Established in 2020, the UP World LNG Shipping Index is a rules-based stock index family designed to measure the performance of publicly traded companies worldwide involved in the maritime transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG). This unique index comprises 21 companies and partnerships worldwide, representing more than 65% of the global LNG carrier fleet in 2020. The UP Index provides premium services, offering freemium and trial access to charts. With Freemium, users can access the basic UPI vs S&P 500 chart after completing an email registration. The trial includes full access for fourteen days.
Source: By Tomas Novotny, UP-Indices.com
