Global LNG Trade Hits Record 437 Million Metric Tons

Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade reached a record 436.98 million metric tons in 2025, marking a 6.3% increase and the fastest growth rate since 2022. According to the International Gas Union, this surge was driven by strong exports from the United States, Qatar, and Australia, as well as new supply from Canada and the Mauritania/Senegal joint project. The United States led as the top exporter with 110.74 million tons.

European imports rose by 26.1 million tons to 126.2 million tons as the region moved to replace Russian gas. Conversely, imports to the Asia-Pacific region declined by 9.2 million tons due to lower demand in China and India, although China remained the world's largest importer.

Despite these record figures, the organization warns that ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf has damaged infrastructure and obscured the outlook for expansion projects. President Andrea Steger noted that these disruptions have exposed Asian buyers to price increases and flow uncertainty, potentially causing a trade contraction in 2026. This instability is echoed by Shell's LNG Outlook 2026, which reports that current growth in South and Southeast Asia has been stalled by the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, despite a projected 65% demand surge by 2050.