Evolving Energy Markets Signal Ongoing Rise Of LNG

The growth in gas production from the U.S. in recent years has occurred as Asian markets transition their energy consumption toward gas. Those two fundamentals are expected to continue over the medium term, making the U.S. the world’s largest liguefied natural gas (LNG) exporter and China the largest importer by 2025.

The world has shown a growing demand for gas, and by extension, LNG. Demand for gas grew 4.6% in 2018, the fastest rate in more than eight years, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported. China is the largest component of that demand growth as the country pursues environmental policies designed to reduce air pollution by switching away from coal-fired plants to gas-fired plants. That demand is expected to grow more than 10% over the next five years to more than 4.3 trillion cubic meters (Tcf) in 2024. Additional demand is also expected to come from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan over the next five years.