PLATTS - US LPG is being exported directly to India in a new evolution of global trade flow, with four Very Large Gas Carriers laden with LPG set to reach India in April, and cargoes have been set to be delivered for May and June as well.

U.S. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 196,000 in March, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.8 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Notable job gains occurred in health care and in professional and technical services.

BHGE - U.S. Rig Count is up 19 rigs from last week to 1,025, with oil rigs up 15 to 831, gas rigs up 4 to 194, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 0.

U.S. net natural gas exports in January 2019 totaled 2.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), marking 12 consecutive months where U.S. natural gas exports exceeded U.S. imports.

The EU section of Russia's planned 55 Bcm/year Nord Stream 2 gas link to Germany could face tariff regulation from March at the latest after the European Parliament signed off changes to the EU's gas directive on Thursday.

МИНФИН РОССИИ - Ожидаемый объем дополнительных нефтегазовых доходов федерального бюджета, связанный с превышением фактически сложившейся цены на нефть над базовым уровнем, прогнозируется в апреле 2019 года в размере +307,2 млрд руб.

A research centre to support China's push for nuclear fusion power has been approved. It will be able to test large superconducting magnets and filters under operational conditions. The Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said that having an integrated research facility for key systems of fusion reactors is "one of the major scientific engineering projects" in the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan.

TASS - The share of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the global gas market may double to reach 70% by 2040, Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak said at the Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum on Friday.

U.S. EIA - In January 2019, for the 21st consecutive month, dry natural gas production increased year to year for the month. The preliminary level for dry natural gas production in January 2019 was 2,746 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 88.6 Bcf/d. This level was 10.7 Bcf/d (13.7%) higher than the January 2018 level of 77.9 Bcf/d.

Russian gas producers Gazprom and RusGazDobycha will start a major gas processing and liquefaction project near the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga, Gazprom said on Friday.