Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Exports — - Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Exports refer to the total volume of liquefied natural gas shipped from a country to international markets during a given year. LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to approximately −162°C, converting it into a liquid state for efficient storage and long-distance transportation by specialized LNG carriers. The indicator is typically measured in billion cubic meters (bcm) after regasification or in equivalent LNG volumes and represents the quantity of domestically produced natural gas exported in liquefied form. LNG Exports are an important measure of a country's natural gas production capacity, export infrastructure, participation in global LNG trade, and contribution to international energy markets.
It serves as an important indicator of natural gas production, liquefaction capacity, export competitiveness, and the contribution of LNG to regional energy trade and economic growth.
The Americas exported 22,100 mcm of LNG in 2015, increasing to 24,500 mcm in 2016 before rising sharply to 36,500 mcm in 2017 and 50,100 mcm in 2018. Regional exports continued to expand to 69,900 mcm in 2019 and 81,200 mcm in 2020, reaching 107,800 mcm in 2021, 121,000 mcm in 2022, and a record 131,400 mcm in 2023. The United States became the region's dominant exporter, with LNG exports surging from 700 mcm in 2015 to 114,400 mcm in 2023 following significant investments in liquefaction infrastructure. Trinidad & Tobago and Peru remained important exporters, contributing 10,500 mcm and 5,300 mcm, respectively, in 2023.
Overall, the dataset indicates strong and sustained growth in LNG exports throughout the period, supported by expanding production capacity, increasing global LNG demand, and rising shipments to Europe and Asia. The rapid growth of U.S. exports transformed regional trade dynamics, while established exporters continued supplying long-term international markets despite varying production levels.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating the Americas LNG export outlook, analyzing regional trade patterns, and assessing future export opportunities. It supports market research, infrastructure planning, investment evaluation, and policy development while providing insights for researchers, industry stakeholders, analysts, and policymakers monitoring LNG trade, export capacity expansion, global competitiveness, and the evolving role of the Americas in the international natural gas market.