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Doha, Qatar: Qatar has strengthened its position as one of the world’s leading liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters after increasing its share of the global market to 18.7% in 2025, according to the latest International Gas Union (IGU) World LNG Report 2026.
The report shows that Qatar exported 81.5 million tonnes (Mt) of LNG during 2025, an increase of 4.3 Mt from the previous year, enabling the country to overtake Australia and become the world’s second-largest LNG exporter, behind only the United States.
Global LNG trade reached a record 437.0 Mt in 2025, up by 25.7 Mt compared with 2024, reflecting growing international demand for natural gas as countries continue to balance energy security with efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
According to the IGU report, Qatar’s exports accounted for approximately 18.7% of total global LNG trade, underscoring the country’s expanding role in supplying international energy markets. Together, the United States, Qatar and Australia supplied 62% of global LNG exports during the year, highlighting the dominance of the three largest producers.
The report attributes Qatar’s strong performance to continued optimisation of its integrated upstream and midstream operations, allowing LNG production facilities to operate at or near full capacity throughout the year.
The increase in exports comes as Qatar continues to invest billions of dollars in expanding production from the North Field. Once completed, the North Field East, North Field South and North Field West expansion projects will increase Qatar’s LNG production capacity from 77 million tonnes per annum to 142 million tonnes per annum by the end of the decade.
The expansion will further strengthen Qatar’s position as a reliable supplier to both Asian and European markets, particularly as countries seek long-term energy security amid geopolitical uncertainty and the global energy transition.
The IGU report indicates that Asia remained the largest LNG importing region, receiving 138.76 Mt of LNG in 2025. China retained its position as the world’s largest LNG importer, purchasing 69.8 Mt, while Japan imported 67.4 Mt. Europe also maintained strong demand, with LNG imports rising to 126.1 Mt as countries continued diversifying energy supplies.
On the export side, the United States remained the world’s largest LNG supplier with 110.7 Mt of exports, followed by Qatar’s 81.5 Mt and Australia’s 80.3 Mt. Russia ranked fourth with 30.5 Mt, following a decline in exports during the year.
The report notes that North America recorded the largest increase in LNG exports in 2025, driven primarily by new liquefaction capacity in the United States.
The IGU findings reinforce Qatar’s standing as one of the world’s most influential LNG producers at a time when natural gas continues to play a key role in the global energy mix.
With record export volumes, an expanding production base and one of the lowest-cost LNG industries in the world, Qatar remains well positioned to meet growing international demand while strengthening its contribution to global energy security.
The 2026 edition of the International Gas Union’s (IGU) World LNG Report shows record trade, near-record investment and a strong long-term growth outlook despite unprecedented market disruption.
The global liquefied natural gas trade reached a record of 437 million tonnes in 2025, with a 6.3% increase – the strongest growth since 2022, while investment in new LNG supply surged to its highest level in six years.
The report reveals an industry entering a new phase of maturity and resilience, having successfully responded to one of the most challenging periods in its history while continuing to expand its role in supporting global energy security, economic development and emissions reduction.
