Growth in global LNG trade was flat in 2020

Global trade in liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2020 remained essentially unchanged from 2019, averaging 46.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) compared with 46.7 Bcf/d in 2019 (a 0.4% increase), according to the recently released The LNG Industry GIIGNL Annual Report 2021 by the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL). This small annual increase in LNG trade occurred despite the COVID-19 pandemic that reduced global natural gas demand. Between 2015 and 2019, global LNG trade expanded by 45%, posting record growth in 2018 and 2019. This expansion was primarily led by liquefaction capacity additions in Australia, the United States, and Russia, which combined accounted for more than 90% of the global growth in liquefaction capacity during this period.