Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade surged by 43 billion cubic meters year-on-year, reaching a historical peak of 580 billion cubic meters.
Sea-news.az reports that this is stated in the “Global Gas Report 2026,” prepared by the International Gas Union (IGU) and Italy’s Snam.
According to the report, despite a 10-billion-cubic-meter decrease in liquid gas imports compared to 2024, China maintained its position as the world’s largest LNG importer. Japan imported 91 billion cubic meters, and the Republic of Korea imported 67 billion cubic meters over the course of the year.
Europe’s LNG imports increased by 32 billion cubic meters last year. This highlights Europe’s structural shift away from Russian pipeline gas and its growing reliance on liquefied natural gas, with the United States accounting for more than 50 percent of Europe’s total LNG imports.
Experts note that LNG is playing an increasingly vital role in the global energy system and in ensuring national energy supply security.
