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 domestic supply requirements, electricity generation demand, infrastructure utilization, and the role of LNG imports within Mexico’s energy system.
Mexico imported 6,800 Mcm of LNG in 2015, declining to 5,600 Mcm in 2016 before increasing to 6,600 Mcm in 2017 and 6,900 Mcm in 2018, the highest level during the review period. Imports declined slightly to 6,600 Mcm in 2019 before falling sharply to 2,500 Mcm in 2020. LNG imports decreased further to 900 Mcm in 2021, declined to 600 Mcm in 2022, and recovered modestly to 900 Mcm in 2023. The decline reflected increasing pipeline gas imports and changing supply dynamics.
Overall, the dataset indicates a significant downward trend in Mexico’s LNG imports after 2018. Reduced import requirements were supported by expanding cross-border pipeline infrastructure, greater availability of pipeline gas, and changing energy market conditions. Annual fluctuations also reflected electricity demand, infrastructure utilization, and international LNG market developments.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating Mexico’s LNG import outlook, analyzing import dynamics, and assessing future supply 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, import patterns, and the evolving role of LNG within Mexico’s energy market.