US LNG Exports Reach Near Record Levels in December
US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports reached near record levels in December, reaching 8.5 million metric tonnes (MT), according to preliminary data from financial firm LSEG. This is just short of the record monthly export of 8.6 MT recorded in December 2023, and represents a 9% increase over the 7.75 MT exported in November.
For the year, LNG exports hit 88.3 MT, up 4.5% from 2023, solidifying the US as the world’s largest LNG exporter. The growth in exports is expected to continue with the startup of new plants, including Cheniere Energy’s Stage 3 expansion at Corpus Christi, Texas, and Venture Global LNG’s launch of its Plaquemines plant in Louisiana, which are expected to add 30 MTPA to US annual output.
Europe remained the preferred destination for US LNG exports in December, with 5.84 MT or 69% of the superchilled gas sold to the continent. Total exports to Asia grew slightly to 2.01 MT, or 24%, up from 1.64 MT or 21% of total exports in November. Latin America took 0.58 MT, the same as November 2024, while there was also one cargo for 0.07 MT sold to Jordan.
Higher LNG production in late December has led to record feedgas demand, and producers will have to play catch up this year. Experts say that US gas producers have prepared for the ramp up in LNG feedgas demand, but that data center- and AI-related demand is also increasing at the same time.
