Qatar strengthens LNG leadership as exports reach record high

Qatar has reinforced its position as one of the world's leading liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters after increasing its share of the global LNG market to 18.7% in 2025, according to the International Gas Union (IGU) World LNG Report 2026.

The report highlights Qatar's continued growth in LNG production and exports, strengthening its role in meeting rising global energy demand.

Qatar Becomes World's Second-Largest LNG Exporter

Qatar exported 81.5 million tonnes (Mt) of LNG during 2025, representing an increase of 4.3 Mt compared to the previous year.

The higher export volume enabled Qatar to overtake Australia and become the world's second-largest LNG exporter, behind only the United States.

Global LNG Trade Reaches Record High

The IGU report revealed that global LNG trade reached a record 437.0 Mt in 2025, an increase of 25.7 Mt compared with 2024.

The growth reflects rising international demand for natural gas as countries continue to balance energy security with efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Qatar Accounts for 18.7% of Global LNG Exports

According to the report, Qatar supplied approximately 18.7% of global LNG exports during 2025, highlighting its expanding role in international energy markets.

The United States, Qatar and Australia collectively accounted for 62% of global LNG exports, demonstrating the dominance of the world's three largest LNG producers.

Global LNG Export Rankings

The report ranked the world's leading LNG exporters in 2025 as follows:

United States: 110.7 million tonnes
Qatar: 81.5 million tonnes
Australia: 80.3 million tonnes
Russia: 30.5 million tonnes
Russia ranked fourth after recording a decline in exports during the year.

North America Records Strongest Growth

The report noted that North America experienced the largest increase in LNG exports during 2025.

The growth was driven primarily by the addition of new liquefaction capacity in the United States, further strengthening its position as the world's largest LNG supplier.

Qatar Well Positioned for Future Growth

The IGU said Qatar remains one of the world's most influential LNG producers, supported by:

Record export volumes
Expanding production capacity
One of the world's lowest-cost LNG industries
Strong global demand for cleaner energy sources
These advantages position Qatar to continue strengthening its contribution to global energy security while meeting increasing international demand.

Positive Long-Term Outlook for the LNG Industry

The 2026 International Gas Union (IGU) World LNG Report highlights record global LNG trade, near-record investment levels and a positive long-term growth outlook despite ongoing market disruptions.

The findings reaffirm Qatar's growing importance in the global energy sector and its continued leadership in supplying LNG to international markets.