(Adds delivery date)
LONDON/BUENOS AIRES, May 13 (Reuters) - Argentina hassecured a total of three liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes fordelivery in July from oil major BP, Norway's Statoil and U.S. bank Morgan Stanley, trade sourcessaid.
A recent slump in LNG demand from top global buyer Japan hasshifted the spotlight from Asia to major Latin Americaneconomies Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, which are seeking toavert energy shortages by increasing imports.
Latin America's No. 3 economy has struggled to source itsrecord LNG requirement of 83 cargoes for this year as it triesto offset falling domestic supplies amid surging demand.
In its latest tender launched in April, state-run oilcompany YPF asked global suppliers to submit offers to supply atotal of six cargoes. It has only been able to secure three ofthese.
"The three cargoes are due to arrive in July," an industrysource in Buenos Aires said.
"Argentina will pay around $16/mmBtu (million Britishthermal units) per cargo, plus or minus about 20 cents," oneEuropean trade source added.
Argentina this month paid Gazprom $16.25-$16.50/mmBtu for acargo from Egypt, according to data from energy consultancyWaterborne. (Reporting by Oleg Vukmanovic and Karina Grazina in BuenosAires; editing by William Hardy)