2025-10-29
Qatar Remains Top GECF Exporter; Among Top 3 LNG Transhippers Globally
Qatar remained the top LNG exporter among GECF countries and was among the top three in the world (as of September this year), latest report by the forum has shown.
According to Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Qatar recorded higher LNG exports, supported by stronger output from the Ras Laffan LNG facility, which operated above its nameplate capacity.
From January to September, aggregated GECF LNG exports moved marginally higher by 0.1% (0.2mn tons) y-o-y to reach 143.79mn tons, GECF noted.
In September, LNG exports from GECF Member and Observer Countries fell by 6.3% (1.03mn tons) y-o-y to 15.17mn tons reversing four consecutive months of annual growth.
The decline was most pronounced in Algeria, Nigeria, Peru and Russia, while Qatar recorded a sharp increase in its LNG exports.
In Algeria, Nigeria, and Peru, reduced feedgas availability contributed to the decline in LNG exports.
In Algeria, upstream maintenance activities curtailed feedgas supply, resulting in lower LNG output.
In Nigeria, pipeline maintenance is believed to have constrained feedgas flows to liquefaction facilities.
Meanwhile, Russia’s lower LNG exports originated from the Portovaya, Vysotsk, and Yamal LNG plants.
In September 2025, LNG exports from non-GECF countries continued to grow sharply, rising by 14% (2.41mn tons) y-o-y to reach 19.36mn tons.
Canada, Papua New Guinea and the US drove the strong increase in LNG exports, offsetting a drop from Australia.
In Canada, the growth in LNG exports was supported by the ramp-up of production at the LNG Canada facility.
Meanwhile, lower maintenance activity drove Papua New Guinea’s LNG exports higher.
In the US, higher exports were attributed to increased output from the Corpus Christi LNG Phase 3 and Plaquemines LNG facilities, due to ramp-up in production at both facilities, alongside reduced maintenance activity at the Calcasieu Pass LNG facility.
Conversely, Australia’s LNG exports declined due to maintenance-related reductions at the APLNG and Ichthys LNG facilities.
Between January and September, cumulative LNG exports from non-GECF countries surged by 8.7% (13.90mn tons) y-o-y to reach 173.21mn tons.
In September, global LNG re-exports moved slightly higher by 13% (0.02mn tons) y-o-y to reach 0.20mn tons. China drove the increase in LNG re-exports offsetting weaker re-exports from Indonesia and the United States Virgin Islands (USVI).
Weak LNG demand in China supported LNG re-export activity, with one cargo each sent to Japan and South Korea in September, compared to no LNG re-exports in September 2024.
In Indonesia, the decline in LNG re-exports may reflect subdued regional demand, as only one small-scale LNG cargo was re-exported for domestic trade in September 2025, whereas a year earlier, a large-scale cargo was re-exported to South Korea. Meanwhile, the drop in LNG re-exports from the USVI is attributed to the regular LNG trade between the US and Puerto Rico, which continues to shift volumes away from re-export channels.
From January to September, aggregated global LNG re-exports grew by 9.0% y-o-y (0.20mn tons) reaching 2.46mn tons, driven mainly by Brazil, China, Indonesia and Singapore.
According to Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Qatar recorded higher LNG exports, supported by stronger output from the Ras Laffan LNG facility, which operated above its nameplate capacity.
From January to September, aggregated GECF LNG exports moved marginally higher by 0.1% (0.2mn tons) y-o-y to reach 143.79mn tons, GECF noted.
In September, LNG exports from GECF Member and Observer Countries fell by 6.3% (1.03mn tons) y-o-y to 15.17mn tons reversing four consecutive months of annual growth.
The decline was most pronounced in Algeria, Nigeria, Peru and Russia, while Qatar recorded a sharp increase in its LNG exports.
In Algeria, Nigeria, and Peru, reduced feedgas availability contributed to the decline in LNG exports.
In Algeria, upstream maintenance activities curtailed feedgas supply, resulting in lower LNG output.
In Nigeria, pipeline maintenance is believed to have constrained feedgas flows to liquefaction facilities.
Meanwhile, Russia’s lower LNG exports originated from the Portovaya, Vysotsk, and Yamal LNG plants.
In September 2025, LNG exports from non-GECF countries continued to grow sharply, rising by 14% (2.41mn tons) y-o-y to reach 19.36mn tons.
Canada, Papua New Guinea and the US drove the strong increase in LNG exports, offsetting a drop from Australia.
In Canada, the growth in LNG exports was supported by the ramp-up of production at the LNG Canada facility.
Meanwhile, lower maintenance activity drove Papua New Guinea’s LNG exports higher.
In the US, higher exports were attributed to increased output from the Corpus Christi LNG Phase 3 and Plaquemines LNG facilities, due to ramp-up in production at both facilities, alongside reduced maintenance activity at the Calcasieu Pass LNG facility.
Conversely, Australia’s LNG exports declined due to maintenance-related reductions at the APLNG and Ichthys LNG facilities.
Between January and September, cumulative LNG exports from non-GECF countries surged by 8.7% (13.90mn tons) y-o-y to reach 173.21mn tons.
In September, global LNG re-exports moved slightly higher by 13% (0.02mn tons) y-o-y to reach 0.20mn tons. China drove the increase in LNG re-exports offsetting weaker re-exports from Indonesia and the United States Virgin Islands (USVI).
Weak LNG demand in China supported LNG re-export activity, with one cargo each sent to Japan and South Korea in September, compared to no LNG re-exports in September 2024.
In Indonesia, the decline in LNG re-exports may reflect subdued regional demand, as only one small-scale LNG cargo was re-exported for domestic trade in September 2025, whereas a year earlier, a large-scale cargo was re-exported to South Korea. Meanwhile, the drop in LNG re-exports from the USVI is attributed to the regular LNG trade between the US and Puerto Rico, which continues to shift volumes away from re-export channels.
From January to September, aggregated global LNG re-exports grew by 9.0% y-o-y (0.20mn tons) reaching 2.46mn tons, driven mainly by Brazil, China, Indonesia and Singapore.
Source: GULF TIMES