The United States was the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter in 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, exporting 11.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d).
Compared to 2023, exports were flat. This has been attributed to limited new LNG export capacity additions since 2022, lower natural gas consumption in Europe, and several unplanned outages at existing LNG export facilities. An eighth LNG export facility entered service in December.
“We estimate that utilization of LNG export capacity across the other seven U.S. LNG terminals operating in 2024 averaged 104 percent of nominal capacity and 86 percent of peak capacity, unchanged from the previous year,” the agency said.
Europe accounted for 53 percent of all U.S. exports, although decreasing 19 percent compared to 2023. Asia accounted for 33 percent, growing 26 percent. Exports to the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America accounted for 14 percent, growing 6 percent.
The next largest LNG exporters are Australia, Qatar, Russia and Malaysia. Australia and Qatar have remained stable over the last five years with exports ranging from 10.2 Bcf/d to 10.7 Bcf/d annually. Last year, Russia’s LNG exports averaged 4.4 Bcf/d, and Malaysia’s exports averaged 3.7 Bcf/d.