Geneva Grasps Opportunity in Increasingly Globalised LNG Market by Welcoming Major Gas Event

LONDON, October 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Some European commodities traders are bucking trends in a depressed European energy trading landscape and seeking to expand activity in liquefied natural gas (LNG) due to the expanding, increasingly-globalised nature of the industry. New operations in Switzerland are now picking up where many giant banks - including Bank of America - have scaled down European energy trading, resulting in smaller, leaner outfits grasping onto new opportunities in what has been one of the flattest European markets in decades. Companies including Koch Supply & Trading, Trafigura, Mercuria, Vitol and Gunvor are establishing strong positions in gaps left by major banks, illuminating new market prospects even in gloomy gas market climes.

Whilst Switzerland's economy is rooted in commerce, banking and trade, the growth of Geneva as a potential new trading epicentre for natural gas and LNG has been further reflected in the decision by Geneva to welcome one of Europe's most illustrious gas industry events next year. The hosting announcement of the special 30^th anniversary edition of the 'European Autumn Gas Conference' (EAGC) - attended by Europe's strategic natural gas and LNG leadership - is reflective of Geneva's growing interest and affinity in these new trading opportunities. It fittingly returns to Geneva as the place of its launch 29 years ago, but with a European energy market landscape now entirely unrecognisable from that in the 1980s, it will be the future global opportunities that trading in gas, LNG and power now offer companies willing to dive into the narrow gaps left by others.  

Recent European gas market liberalisation, coupled with changes to regulation, have forced trading operations to realign their businesses and many of the new opportunities presenting themselves to trading houses are based in the global - rather than European - markets. The EAGC 2015 hosted in Geneva is confidently positioned to address the new market dynamics facing Europe's gas and LNG industries, whilst celebrating its 30^thanniversary.

Geneva is well positioned to serve these new opportunities in gas and LNG trading, with the United Nations Gas Centre well-established in the city, and the increasingly influential role of Swiss utility companies in European gas movements. The future seems bright for the risk-takers willing to seize upon opportunities now being presented beyond Europe and in the global gas marketplace.

For further information on the 2015 European Autumn Gas Conference, contact Damian Howard on damianhoward@dmgevents.com or call +44(0)203-772-6038