U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have been growing steadily and reached a new peak of 4.7 billion cubic feet per day (cf/d), according to the latest data published by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy. This year, the U.S. became the world’s third-largest LNG exporter, averaging 4.2 billion cf/d in the first five months of the year. The U.S. is expected to remain the third-largest LNG exporter in the world, behind Australia and Qatar, in 2019-2020.
U.S. LNG exports have increased as four new liquefaction units (trains) with a combined capacity of 2.4 billion cf/d—Sabine Pass Train 5, Corpus Christi Trains 1 and 2, and Cameron Train 1—came online since November 2018. Shipments to Europe have increased significantly since October 2018 and accounted for almost 40% of U.S. LNG exports in the first five months of 2019.