Last year U.S. maintained its position as the largest supplier of LNG to Europe by supplying nearly half of the total LNG imports, according to data from CEDIGAS (international association for natural and renewable gases) as reported by Oil & Gas Journal. It was the third straight year for U.S. to lead in LNG supply to Europe after accounting for 27 percent of imports in 2021, 44 percent in 2022 and 48 percent in 2023 (7 Bcfd). Qatar and Russia remain second and third.
U.S. Energy Information Administration said annual natural gas marketed production in U.S. rose by 4.7 percent to a record 41.3 trillion cubic feet in 2023. Natural gas production has increased by 113 percent since 2006 and 41 percent since 2017. In 2023 U.S. became largest exporter of LNG in the world (to a record 7.6 trillion cubic feet) for the first time ahead of Qatar and Australia. That includes 3.27 Tcfd via pipeline to Canada and Mexico. U.S. became a net exporter of natural gas in 2017 – exporting more than importing.