US Dominates Global LNG Market as Exports Surge

The US has emerged as the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, accounting for 93% of global LNG growth in 2025. According to data from the Energy Institute's 2026 Statistical Review of World Energy, the country supplied approximately 1.10 trillion cubic feet of new LNG exports, surpassing Qatar and Australia as top exporters.

The US share of the global LNG export market reached 25.4% in 2025, with Europe receiving around 68% of total US LNG exports. The shift towards LNG has also increased interregional trade by approximately 6.5%, while pipeline trade declined by about 3.6%. LNG now accounts for roughly 55% of interregional natural gas trade.

The growth in US LNG exports is attributed to the shale revolution, which unlocked enormous volumes of relatively low-cost natural gas. The country's existing infrastructure along the Gulf Coast, including pipelines and storage facilities, has also facilitated export growth.

Several US terminals are still ramping up or under construction, with projects totaling over 2.8 trillion cubic feet of annual export capacity reaching final investment decisions in 2025. The International Energy Agency expects the US to supply roughly one-third of the global LNG market by the end of the decade.