Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Imports — - Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Imports refer to the total volume of liquefied natural gas received by a country from international suppliers during a given year. LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to approximately −162°C, converting it into a liquid state to facilitate 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 amount of imported LNG entering a country's energy supply. LNG Imports are a key indicator of natural gas trade, energy security, import dependency, and the diversification of natural gas supply sources.
It serves as an important indicator of electricity generation demand, domestic gas supply conditions, hydropower availability, and the role of LNG in Brazil’s diversified energy system.
Brazil imported 6.8 bcm of LNG in 2015 before imports declined sharply to 2.6 bcm in 2016 and 1.7 bcm in 2017. Import volumes recovered to 2.9 bcm in 2018 and increased to 3.2 bcm in 2019 and 3.3 bcm in 2020. LNG imports surged to a review-period high of 10.1 bcm in 2021 before declining significantly to 2.3 bcm in 2022 and further to 1.3 bcm in 2023.
Overall, the dataset indicates considerable fluctuations in Brazil’s LNG imports throughout the review period. Import demand was influenced by hydropower generation levels, electricity demand, domestic gas availability, and weather-related variations affecting reservoir conditions. The sharp increase in 2021 reflected higher thermal power generation requirements, while the subsequent decline corresponded with improved hydropower availability, changing fuel requirements, and evolving energy market conditions.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating Brazil’s LNG import outlook, analyzing supply dynamics, and assessing future energy requirements. It supports market research, infrastructure planning, investment evaluation, and policy development while providing insights for researchers, industry stakeholders, analysts, and policymakers monitoring energy security, LNG trade trends, electricity generation requirements, and the evolving role of imported natural gas in Brazil’s energy landscape.