June 07 2021: Australia gains the top spot in LNG exports during 2020, exporting 77.8 million tons of gas, an increase of 2.4 million tons when compared to 2019. The total LNG market stood at approximately 356 million tons in 2020, according to latest publication of IGU.
On the other hand, Qatar exported 77.1 million tons, 0.7 million tons lesser than 2019. Both Australia and Qatar are capturing a 22% market share of LNG exports. Australia’s increase was likely the result of the ramp up in volumes from Ichthys, and high utilization across existing projects for a large part of the year.
The other remarkable increase in exports was from the United States of America, which remains in the third place given more exports of 11 million tons in 2020 taking total exports quantum to 44 million tons. This is despite cancellation of cargoes due to slowdown in demand on the surge of COVID 19. The main surge in USA exports come as a result of cargoes starting from Freeport LNG, Elba Island and Cameron LNG terminal.
Russia with a small increase of 300 k tons remain at fourth spot. Russia exported 29.9 million ton of LNG in 2020. Number of export market witnessed drop in their volumes because of issues related to price discovery, technical issues, demand slowdown due to COVID 19 and feed gas issues. The notable drop in exports recorded in volumes of Trinidad & Tobago, Malaysia, Egypt, Algeria and Norway.
