In September, U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports climbed to a record 9.4 million metric tons, slightly above the 9.3 million metric tons shipped in August, reports gCaptain.
The growth came despite unplanned shutdowns at key export facilities and a planned outage at another major plant.
Record run continues for U.S. LNG
Strong demand from both Europe and Asia fueled the increase. Europe remained the largest market, taking about two-thirds of total U.S. LNG exports with 6.22 million metric tons in September, compared to 6.16 million the previous month. Exports to Asia also rose, reaching 1.63 million metric tons from 1.47 million in August, accounting for just over 17% of the total. The rest of the shipments were directed to Latin America and North Africa.
Pricing dynamics shaped trade flows as well. In September, gas traded at around $11 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) in Europe and at nearly the same level in Asia, leaving little incentive for shippers to divert cargoes from one region to the other.
Exports to Latin America slipped from 0.69 million metric tons in August to 0.63 million in September, reflecting the seasonal decline in demand after the end of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. In North Africa, Egypt took in about 0.5 million metric tons across seven cargoes, slightly down from the previous month, as the country boosted imports to offset falling domestic production.
Five U.S. LNG cargoes in September departed with a combined 0.4 million metric tons yet remained uncommitted, signaling available flexibility for spot buyers.
As the world’s largest LNG exporter, the United States continues to play a central role in global energy markets, with its export trends, destination shifts, and pricing dynamics shaping supply security and trade flows worldwide.
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Source: gCaptain
