OREANDA-NEWS. October 23, 2014. There are a couple more months until the end of 2014 but it is already clear that there has been more trade on the Dutch gas trading platform TTF (Title Transfer Facility), than during the whole of 2013. That’s shown by the spectacular growth in traded volume.

Whereas the volume of trade for the whole of 2013 was 8,287 TWh, at the start of this month direct trade (OTC) figures already came to 9,182 TWh. The TTF sprinted ahead in the first half of 2014 and it is maintaining the lead. The growth figures show that the Netherlands has developed rapidly within Europe into one of the most attractive gas trading hubs.

TTF is front runner on European OTC for the first time
By far the most trading on the TTF takes place Over-The-Counter (OTC). This means the trading is done directly between the parties, either with or without the involvement of a broker. In Europe, two gas hubs (together accounting for more than 80%) are head and shoulders above the remaining gas trading platforms: these two are the British National Balancing Point (NBP) and the TTF. Until spring 2014, NBP came out top every month in OTC trade, but it has now been overtaken by the TTF.

So much so that, calculated over the most recent gas year (October 2013 - September 2014) more OTC trade has taken place on the TTF than on the NBP.  During September 2014, the figures showed 1,138 TWh on the TTF and 796 TWh on the NBP. A well-functioning TTF strengthens security of supply and also ensures that supply and demand work properly. This creates the conditions for optimal pricing.

In addition to OTC trade, remaining gas trading takes place via a Gas Exchange, mainly via the Inter Continental Exchange (ICE). Here too the TTF is buoyant; a record high was scored in September for the third time this year after February and June.