US Dominates Global LNG Market with Record Exports

The United States has become the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, accounting for 93% of the global increase in LNG exports in 2025. The country supplied approximately 1.10 trillion cubic feet of the additional LNG, making it a significant player in the global market.

In 2015, the US exported less than 0.03 trillion cubic feet of LNG, but by 2025, this number had risen to 5.2 trillion cubic feet, making the US the largest LNG exporter by a substantial margin. The U.S. share of the global LNG export market reached 25.4%, with Qatar ranking second at 3.9 trillion cubic feet and Australia third at 3.7 trillion cubic feet.

The shale revolution and existing infrastructure along the Gulf Coast, including pipelines, storage facilities, ports, petrochemical complexes, and an experienced energy workforce, have contributed to the growth of US LNG exports. The Plaquemines LNG facility in Louisiana provided much of the new supply in 2025, accounting for over 60% of the increase in global LNG supply.

The structure of many U.S. LNG contracts has also made them appealing to buyers, as they are often linked to domestic natural gas prices and allow customers more flexibility to redirect cargoes. European customers received approximately 68% of total US LNG exports in 2025, with the majority coming from record shipments averaging 10.3 billion cubic feet per day.

U.S. natural gas production reached a record 103.9 billion cubic feet per day in 2025, accounting for more than 25% of global production. The Permian Basin and Haynesville region have been key contributors to this growth, with the latter's proximity to Gulf Coast LNG terminals making it particularly responsive to increasing export demand.