Pakistan has purchased another spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo for July delivery, accepting a bid of $20.69 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) from PetroChina, according to sources.

The cargo, scheduled for delivery between July 21 and 22, was procured by state-owned Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) through a competitive tender.

Sources said PLL received two bids for the cargo. PetroChina submitted the lowest offer at $20.69/MMBtu, while BP Singapore quoted $21.37/MMBtu. The PLL Board approved PetroChina’s bid after evaluating the offers.

The latest purchase is the fourth spot LNG cargo secured for July supplies and the most expensive cargo purchased so far this month, reflecting continued firmness in international LNG prices.

Pakistan has increasingly relied on spot market purchases in recent weeks to bridge supply gaps after disruptions to LNG imports under long-term arrangements, particularly following regional supply constraints linked to the Strait of Hormuz and reduced Qatari exports. The country has been forced to buy cargoes at significantly higher prices than those under its long-term contracts with Qatar.

Earlier this month, PLL awarded separate July spot cargoes, including one to TotalEnergies at $17.37/MMBtu for delivery on July 10-11 and another to BP Singapore at $18.23/MMBtu for delivery on July 15-16, highlighting the sharp increase in procurement costs for the latest purchase.