Nov 8 (Reuters) - Commodity trading house Trafigura

has signed a long-term natural gas offtake agreement

with NuVista Energy ( NUVSF ), giving the mid-size Canadian

producer exposure to international liquefied natural gas (LNG)

market pricing, the companies said on Friday.

NuVista will supply 21,000 metric million British thermal

units per day (MMbtu/d) of natural gas to Trafigura with the

purchase price indexed to the Japan Korea Marker (JKM) for a

period of up to 13 years beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

The JKM is the LNG benchmark price assessment for spot

physical cargoes in Asia and the deal opens up access to global

LNG markets for Calgary, Alberta-based NuVista at a time when

Canadian gas prices are struggling.

"For over a decade of growth, we have prioritized ensuring

significant diversity in our North American natural gas sales

locations to maximize returns on our condensate-rich natural

gas," NuVista CEO Jonathan Wright said in a statement.

"We are extremely pleased to now make our first entry to

the world LNG markets."

NuVista produces around 83,000 barrels of oil equivalent per

day (boepd) from Canada's Montney region, one of North America's

top shale plays.

The deal with Trafigura continues a recent trend of Montney

producers signing deals to increase exposure to LNG markets.

Canada does not yet have any LNG export terminals, although the

Shell-led LNG Canada project is due to start operating

next year and two other smaller terminals are under

construction.

Trafigura also signed a seven-year offtake agreement

with Canada's largest natural gas firm Tourmaline Oil Corp ( TRMLF )

in January, while producer ARC Resources

entered into a supply agreement with LNG company Cheniere Energy

last year.