The country consumes much of the world's copper, cotton, and corn, to name just a few.

比方說他們是世界上消費銅、棉花以及玉米等...最多的國家

Soon we might add to the list, natural gas.

我們很快就要把天然氣加到這份列表上了

Beijing's long-held concern about security of supply for its energy

北京當局對能源供應安全的擔憂

made the country dependent upon its coal and oil reserves.

讓該國長期以來一直得依靠煤炭和原油儲備

Today, it is shifting away from highly polluting coal towards natural gas.

如今，他們要從高污染的煤炭轉到使用天然氣

Although this year its coal consumption has bounced back,

即便今年該國的煤炭消費已經反彈向上

it's not clear that that can last.

但無法確定它會維持多久

A recent academic study revealed that for those living in the more coal dependent north,

一個最近的學術研究指出在比較依賴煤炭的北方

air pollution shortens lives by three years

空氣汙染使得他們的壽命減少了三年

as compared to those who live in the southern regions of China.

跟居住在中國南方的居民相比的話

While the country has plans to expand the amount of gas it imports via pipelines,

當中國打算要透過管線來擴張天然氣的進口

in the short term China has chosen to step up its seaborne imports of liquid natural gas.

短期來講，中國打算增加由海上運送過來的液化天然氣的量

Up to October this year, LNG inflow has jumped 48% on average.

截至今年十月，送入的液化天然奇平均暴增了 48%

That follows a one quarter rise the year before.

去年也漲了四分之一

Transporting this fuel requires specialised tankers and there are not enough of them.

運送這些燃料需要使用專門的運油船，而目前運油船數量還不夠

A glut of LNG tankers booked a couple of years ago has vanished.

很多在一年前訂購的液化天然氣油船已經消失了

Between 2012 and 2014, the number of orders placed more than doubled to 66.

在 2012 到 2014 年，訂單增加了近一倍到 66 份

This year, that number has dropped to just eight.

今年，這個數字掉到 8

Now these ships require around 30 months to build. Spot daily rental rates have thus risen.

現在這些船需要大約三十個月來建造。現貨租金因此上漲

Since April of last year, LNG tanker rates have roughly doubled and they are still historically low.

自從去年四月，液化天然氣的運油船大約增加了一倍，而這個數字已歷史來看仍然算低

These prices could more than double again before touching the highs of five years ago.

在觸及五年高點前，價格都還可以再翻一倍以上

Not only have China's imports picked up, but the US has begun to export its cheap gas.

不只中國進口進口有所回升，美國也開始出口他便宜的天然氣

A notable price arbitrage of around $6 per million British thermal units

每一百萬英國熱單位就大約有 6 塊錢的套利空間

exists between the US and Asian trading hubs.

存在於美國和亞洲的貿易中心之間

Listed LNG tanker specialists have long waited for this day.

名單中的液化天然氣運油船專家等這天等很久了

Companies such as GasLog and Golar LNG have operating companies,

像是 GasLog 和 Golar LNG 公司就有營運公司

as well as high-yielding master limited partnerships, listed in the US.

也在美國有高收益的有限合夥公司

Dynagas also has an MLP listed there.

Dynagas 一樣也有業主有限合夥公司在美國

Another, Norway's Flex LNG awaits delivery of its vessels.

還有 Norway's Flex LNG 正在等待交付他的船隻

While there is no shortage of LNG supply to come,

當沒有液化天然氣的負面消息

that gas will require more vessels to transport it.

那天然氣需要更多的船隻來運輸

LNG tanker operators are now in a sweet spot, able to fuel China's needs.

液化天然氣的運作正處在一個甜蜜點，可以去滿足中國的需求