* China's Sinopec buys more cargoes than initially sought
* Buyers from India and Pakistan seek cargoes
* Louisiana Cameron LNG moves closer to exiting outage
By Jessica Jaganathan
SINGAPORE, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Asian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices rose this week supported by spot demand from China and South Asia while supply continued to be curtailed in Australia and the United States.
The average LNG price for November delivery into northeast Asia LNG-AS was estimated at about $4.80 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), up 5 cents from the previous week, traders said.
The price for October delivery was estimated at about $4.60 per mmBtu, also up 5 cents, they added.
Demand from Chinese buyers ahead of winter is supporting prices while plant shutdowns in Australia and the United States kept a lid on supply, traders said.
China's Sinopec has purchased about 10 cargoes for delivery between November and March next year, higher than the initial 8 cargoes that it had sought, sources said. Guangzhou Gas likely bought a cargo for delivery in the second half of October from PetroChina at about $4.70 per mmBtu, while Kuwait Petroleum Corp may have bought a cargo for delivery in October at about $4.20 to $4.50 per mmBtu, sources added.
Some spot demand was also seen from India and Pakistan with Indian Oil Corp requiring a cargo for mid-November delivery in a tender that closes on Friday while Reliance Industries and Petronet were seeking cargoes for October and November respectively. LNG is seeking an additional cargo for delivery in November, adding to an earlier requirement. The country's gas demand has risen due to a rise in temperatures and a shortage of domestic gas supply for power generation, an industry source said.
Cameron LNG's export plant in Louisiana appeared to move closer to returning to service after lingering power outages from Hurricane Laura have kept it shut since late August, which could cap price increase in the spot market, traders said. at Cameron have not said when the plant would return, noting it continues to work with Entergy (NYSE:ETR), its power company, to get some power restored "to support testing and the initiation of startup activities."