LNG Shipments: Qatar Exports Increase
IIn its latest weekly report, shipbroker Banchero Costa said that “global seaborne LNG trade increased gradually until 2023. However, in 2024 there was no growth at all, with shipping volumes falling -0.1% yoy to 408.3 million tonnes. In contrast, in 2025 there was an increase, with global exports increasing by +4.6% yoy to 317.2 million tonnes in January-September. 2025, from 303.2 million tons in Jan-Sep 2024. The largest LNG exporter is currently the United States, which accounted for 25.0% of shipments in Jan-Sep 2025, followed by Qatar with 19.5%, Australia with 18.7%, and Southeast Asia with 10.5%. In Jan-Sep 2025, the US exported 79.4 million t of LNG, an increase of +22.7% yoy from 64.7 million t of LNG. million tons shipped in Jan-Sep 2024. Qatar exported 61.7 million tonnes in Jan-Sep 2025, up +5.6% yoy. Australia shipped 59.2 million tonnes in Jan-Sep 2025, down -2.8% yoy. Shipments from Southeast Asia fell -0.6% yoy to 33.3 million tons. Russia shipped 21.9 million tonnes of LNG in Jan-Sep 2025, down -5.4% yo-y from 23.2 million tonnes in Jan-Sep 2024. The EU remains the world’s largest LNG importer, accounting for 24.3% of global LNG imports.”
Source: Banchero Costa
According to the shipbroker, “in Jan-Sep 2025, the EU imported 77.1 million tonnes, up +23.2% yoy from 62.5 million tonnes in Jan-Sep 2024, and also surpassed the record of 75.0 million tonnes in Jan-Sep 2023. The UK imported 6.1 million tonnes of LNG in Jan-Sep 2025, +23.6% yoy, but well below the import figure of 11.6 million in Jan-Sep 2023. Mainland China imported 48.9 million t of LNG in Jan-Sep 2025, down -16.5% yoy from 58.5 million t in Jan-Sep 2024. Japan imported 49.4 million t in Jan-Sep 2025, down by -1.9% yoy. South Korea imported 37.1 million tonnes in Jan-Sep 2025, up +7.4% yoy. India imported 17.8 million tons in Jan-Sep 2025, down -8.1% yoy”.
Banchero Costa added that “Qatar was for years the world’s largest exporter of LNG. Now Qatar is again increasing its export volumes, overtaking Australia, but still far behind the United States. In 2024, Qatar exported 77.2 million tonnes of LNG by sea, according to LSEG ship tracking data. This accounted for 18.9% of global LNG shipments. The United States tops the list with 88.0 million tonnes, or 21.6% market share, by 2024. Australia is slightly behind with 81.7 million tonnes, or 20.0% share. In the first 9 months of 2025, Qatar exported 61.7 million tonnes of LNG, which is an increase of +5.6% yoy. This is well behind the US’s 79.4 million tonnes in Jan-Sep 2025, which represents a +22.7% yoy increase. However, this number is in over Australia’s figure of 59.2 million tonnes in Jan-Sep 2025, which is a decline of -2.8% yoy. Therefore, this year Qatar accounts for 19.5% of global exports and Australia only 18.7%.”
Source: Banchero Costa
“In terms of destinations, the balance between East and West is more unequal than before. In Jan-Sep 2025, LNG exports from Qatar to Mainland China increased by +10.6% yoy to 14.1 million tonnes from 12.8 million tonnes in Jan-Sep 2024, an all-time record. Mainland China is now the destination for 22.9% of Qatar’s total LNG exports in 2024. Jan-Sep 2025. Volume to EU has continued to decline since 2022, and was only 6.0 million t in Jan-Sep 2025, down -19.5% yoy from 7.5 million t in JanSep 2024, and well below its peak of 10.0 million t in Jan-Sep 2022. EU now accounts for only 9.8% of Qatar’s LNG shipments. The second top destination from Qatar is now India 13.8% of Qatar’s LNG shipments in Jan-Sep 2025. Shipping from Qatar to India increased by +11.1% yoy in Jan-Sep 2025 to 8.5 million tons. Volumes from Qatar to Taiwan increased +36.3% yoy in Jan-Sep 2025 to 6.1 million t (from 4.5 million t in Jan-Sep 2024), with Taiwan now overtaking the EU and accounting for 9.9% of Qatar’s exports. Exports to South Korea fell -20.8% yoy to 5.2 million tonnes in Jan-Sep 2025, with South Korea accounting for 8.5% of Qatar’s exports. Shipments from Qatar to Southeast Asia jumped +30.6% yoy in JanSep 2025 to 4.5 million tonnes,” the shipbroker concluded.
Nikos Roussanoglou, Worldwide Hellenic Shipping News
