Canada Falls Behind US in LNG Export Race as Global Demand Surges
Canada's natural gas industry has struggled to keep pace with its US counterpart, which has built 12 liquefied natural gas export terminals in just over a decade.
The country currently has only one operational terminal, LNG Canada near Kitimat BC, and plans are underway for several more projects. However, these plans may not be enough to meet the expected surge in global demand for LNG.
According to Shell's latest outlook, world demand for LNG is expected to increase by 54-68% by 2040 and 45-85% by 2050, with Asia leading the charge. The US has already taken advantage of this trend, shipping a record 111 million tonnes of LNG in 2025.
Dane Gregoris, energy director at Enverus Intelligence Research, is optimistic about Canada's chances to catch up, citing a 'second wave' of projects driven by global demand for natural gas. However, the country still lags behind the US, which has eight terminals in operation and 12 more approved but not yet under construction.