LNG shipping has witnessed significant growth, with the United States taking the lead as the largest exporter. In the first quarter of 2025, the U.S. contributed 24.0% of global shipments, surpassing Qatar and Australia. The U.S. exported 26.1 million tonnes of LNG during this period, marking a 15.2% year-on-year increase from 22.7 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2024.
In comparison, Qatar exported 21.5 million tonnes, a rise of 7.0%, while Australia’s exports fell by 6.4% to 19.8 million tonnes. South-East Asia saw a slight increase in shipments, while Russia experienced a decline, shipping just 8.0 million tonnes, the lowest since 2021. The European Union continues to be the largest importer of LNG, with 25.5 million tonnes imported in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting a 9.6% year-on-year increase.
The UK imported 4.5 million tonnes, marking a significant jump of 37.9% compared to the same period in 2024 but remaining below 2023 levels. Meanwhile, Japan’s imports slightly increased, while China faced a notable decrease of 23.3%, accounting for only 14.2% of global imports. Banchero Costa highlighted the upward trajectory of U.S. LNG exports.
Despite a slight dip in 2024, when exports fell by 0.9% to 87.9 million tonnes, the U.S. maintained its position as the top exporter, holding a 21.5% share of the global market. Major U.S. loading ports included Sabine Pass, Corpus Christi, and Freeport. The primary destination for U.S. LNG remains the EU and the UK, although exports to these regions have declined since the peaks in 2022 and 2023.
In 2024, U.S. exports to the EU decreased by 21.4%, while shipments to the UK dropped significantly by 46.8%. However, exports to Japan increased, showcasing a diversification in U.S. export destinations.