Market Survey and Analysis on China's LPG Shipping Business in 2001

The author was in charge of and participated in the market survey and analysis on China's LPG Shipping business in 2001. In this paper, an analysis is made on a series of information obtained from the survey, such as the influence of macroscopic economy development in China on the source of LPG shipping, the source of supply of imported LPG and home-produced LPG, status quo of capacity of LPG transporting ships, influence of "conveying gas from the North to the South"on LPG shipping. A prediction is made to the prospects of LPG shipping market. LPG shipping business is now subject to a serious impact due to the change of transport composition for LPG in China. The import of LPG is reduced while the home-produced LPG is increased significantly. The current LPG conveying market in China is dominantly characterized by the concurrent use of LPG shipping, rail tankers and vehicle tankers. Many LPG shipping companies are forced to open new market and proceed with readjustment and restructuring. Nevertheless, LPG shipping market is still an indispensable market in the domestic energy source transportation framework, and there are reasons for its existence and further development. From the viewpoint of the LPG business association in China, the author also puts forth good suggestions regarding policies to the state governmental departments in charge of the field.