Shell projects the U.S. could supply one-third of global LNG demand by 2035, doubling Japan and South Korea’s combined consumption.U.S. LNG sales dipped last year as the Middle East dominated contracting.
In 2024, the Biden administration paused LNG export permits to non-FTA countries to assess environmental and energy impacts.Trump lifted Biden’s LNG export pause.Shell projects the U.S. leading LNG exports, reaching 180M tonnes by 2030. The U.S. and Qatar may supply 60% of global LNG by 2035 but face regulatory and cost risks.
The U.S. and Qatar may supply 60% of global LNG by 2035, but U.S. exports face regulatory and cost risks, Shell warned.While Trump ended the export pause, the DOE retained Biden-era study reviews, extending the public comment deadline to March 20, 2025.Global LNG trade grew by just 2 million metric tons to 407 million in 2024, the slowest rise in a decade due to limited new supply, Shell said.LNG demand could hit 630-718M tonnes by 2040, higher than last year’s forecast, Shell said.
Over 170M tonnes of new supply may come by 2030, but project timelines remain uncertain.Asia’s demand grows with China’s gas expansion, India’s infrastructure, emissions cuts, AI sector needs, and rising LNG-fueled ship orders, set to exceed 16M tonnes by 2030.LNG demand is set to exceed 16M tonnes in shipping by 2030, up 60%, Shell said.
In Europe, LNG will help balance renewables and prevent energy shortages into the 2030s.Global gas demand will rise for power, industry, and transport, with LNG remaining a key fuel for reliability and flexibility, Shell’s Tom Summers noted.
