USA Surpasses Qatar as World's Top LNG Exporter Amid Geopolitical Shifts

Global seaborne LNG trade experienced a sharp rebound in 2025, but exports declined by 1.6% year-over-year to 241.8 million tons in January-July 2026.

The United States emerged as the largest exporter of LNG in January-July 2026, accounting for 30.6% of shipments, followed by Australia with 19.5%, South-East Asia with 9.7%, and Russia with 7.8%. Qatar's share dropped to just 7.1% due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

In January-July 2026, the United States exported 74.1 million tons of LNG, a 21.6% year-over-year increase from 60.9 million tons shipped in the same period in 2025. Qatar's exports fell by 64.3% year-over-year to just 17.2 million tons.

The European Union remains the world's largest importer of LNG, accounting for 24.2% of global imports. In January-July 2026, the EU imported 58.7 million tons, down 4.6% from a record 61.5 million tons in the same period in 2025.