Latest News

United States LNG exports fall in February on failure and less calendar days

A monthlong closure at Freeport LNG plant in Texas and less days in the month pressed February U.S. liquefied gas exports 7% lower than in January, initial date from financial firm LSEG showed on Friday.

The drop followed record deliveries in 2015 that propelled the U.S. to the world's largest exporter, above Qatar and Australia, a rank it is expected to keep this year.

U.S. exports of the superchilled gas fell to 7.73 million metric heaps (MT) in February, down from 8.3 MT in January and a. record 8.6 MT delivered in December.

The February decrease resulted mainly from the interruption at. one of Freeport LNG's 3 liquefaction units at its Quintana. Island, Texas, plant. The unit has been out of service for more. than a month due to problems with an electrical motor.

The company said today it expected the unit to be. offline for about two more weeks while it finishes repairs,. which most likely will affect March LNG exports.

Shipments of U.S. gas to LNG plants last week fell to 13.9. billion cubic feet each day (bcfd), according to financial firm. Tudor Pickering & & Holt. U.S. plants were performing at about 95% of. usage, compared with about 97% at the end of January.

Europe again took the biggest share of U.S. exports,. followed by Asia and Latin America, the LSEG shipping information. showed.

The U.S. in 2015 accounted for nearly half of LNG imports. to Europe, which cut its imports of pipeline gas from Russia. following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Europe took 4.62 MT, or 60.5% of all the cargoes shipped. last month. That was down from 5.5 MT, or 67%, of January. exports.

Asia's shares of exports jumped to 1.96 MT, or 25% of. freights compared to 1.42 MT, or 17%, in January, while Latin. America's took 0.49 MT, or 6% in February, from an 8.1% share in. the previous month, and amounted to December share, the LSEG information. revealed.

Exports increased to India, which took 5 freights, and. Thailand, which took 2 freights last month, the information showed.

The continued security danger in the Red Sea and the drought. in the Panama Canal has actually led to more U.S. freights taking the. long route to Asia by means of the Cape of Great Hope, the information revealed.

The Latin American freights went to Brazil, the Dominican. Republic, Colombia and Jamaica, according to LSEG information.