U.S. Exports Drive Global LNG Trade to a Record 56.3 Bcf/d in 2025

Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade reached a record high of 56.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2025, a 5.4% increase from 2024, driven by the expansion of U.S. export capacity along the Gulf of Mexico coast.

The figures come from the annual report of the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL), published on July 14 and cited by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The United States exported 15.1 Bcf/d in 2025, a 26% year-over-year increase that gave it a 26% share of global trade, up from 21% in 2024. The consolidation of the United States as the world's leading exporter carries clear implications for Latin America: Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia are increasingly dependent on LNG to stabilize their power grids.

Europe led the demand surge in 2025, with imports growing 29% (+3.8 Bcf/d), driven by the expiration of the Ukraine-Russia gas transit agreement at the end of 2024. The seven largest European importers each added between 0.4 and 0.6 Bcf/d. Asian imports, by contrast, fell 4% to 35.7 Bcf/d, led by a 1.5 Bcf/d decline (-15%) in China, which expanded both domestic production and pipeline imports. On the supply side, Qatar grew 3% to 10.6 Bcf/d, while Russia fell 8% (-0.4 Bcf/d) due to European sanctions. Canada made its debut as an exporter in June 2025 with 0.3 Bcf/d from the LNG Canada terminal.

The EIA projects U.S. LNG exports will reach 17.4 Bcf/d in 2026 and 18.6 Bcf/d in 2027 as the Golden Pass LNG terminal in Texas comes online. However, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, 2026, which has disrupted Qatari exports (roughly 20% of global LNG supply), adds uncertainty to the market for the second half of the year.

This article was drafted with artificial intelligence assistance from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.