LONDON (Bloomberg) - Golar LNG Energy Ltd., operator of a fleet of tankers that haul liquefied natural gas, said it’s “optimistic” that supply and demand “fundamentals are changing” for the vessels.

“With a total order book of only approximately five percent of the total fleet and strong increases in LNG production, it is likely that the LNG shipping market will significantly improve in the years to come,” the Hamilton, Bermuda-based company said in a statement on Friday.

Demand for vessels has increased in the current quarter, which will likely continue to keep supply constrained during 2011’s first three months, Golar said.