US becomes top LNG exporter for first time

LNG tanker

The United States became the world’s biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas for the first time, with shipments in 2023, supported by the restart of Freeport LNG in Texas that was closed following a June 2022 fire and explosion, Bloomberg reported.

The US exported 91.2 million metric tons of LNG in 2023, a record for the country, the news agency’s data showed.

The United States outperforms Australia, which took the second place with its LNG exports remaining stable over the past year.

Qatar, which was in the lead in 2022, fell to the third place with its shipment volumes declining for the first time since at least 2016.