Liquefied natural gas trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in liquefied natural gas was worth $215.87 billion in 2024, about 380.82 million tonnes. That is an increase of 108% since 2017, and down 13% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $215.87B | 380.82M t |
| 2023 | $248.07B | 378.16M t |
| 2022 | $352.95B | 368.95M t |
| 2021 | $185.03B | 379.57M t |
| 2020 | $107.76B | 338.96M t |
| 2019 | $144.80B | 345.11M t |
| 2018 | $144.42B | 312.48M t |
| 2017 | $103.73B | 292.91M t |
Top liquefied natural gas exporting countries
Australia is the largest exporter with 22% of world exports, followed by the United States and Qatar. The top three supply 58% between them, out of 82 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | $47.41B | 22% |
| United States | $40.07B | 19% |
| Qatar | $38.12B | 18% |
| Russia | $17.84B | 8.3% |
| Malaysia | $14.42B | 6.7% |
| Oman | $7.28B | 3.4% |
| Indonesia | $6.77B | 3.1% |
| Nigeria | $6.63B | 3.1% |
| Papua New Guinea | $5.36B | 2.5% |
| Algeria | $5.02B | 2.3% |
| Trinidad and Tobago | $3.70B | 1.7% |
| United Arab Emirates | $3.35B | 1.6% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
China is the biggest buyer with 20% of world imports, ahead of Japan and South Korea. Demand is concentrated: the top three take 52% across 123 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $43.02B | 20% |
| Japan | $40.21B | 19% |
| South Korea | $28.76B | 13% |
| India | $14.73B | 6.8% |
| Taiwan | $11.44B | 5.3% |
| France | $10.55B | 4.9% |
| Netherlands | $7.31B | 3.4% |
| Thailand | $6.42B | 3% |
| Spain | $5.98B | 2.8% |
| Italy | $5.27B | 2.4% |
| Egypt | $4.29B | 2% |
| United Kingdom | $3.96B | 1.8% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $0.57 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Oman averaged $0.64 per kg and Malaysia $0.53 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Liquefied natural gas (HS 2711.11) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 2711.11: Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas. HS 2711 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most liquefied natural gas?
Australia exported $47.41 billion in 2024, 22% of the world total, followed by the United States (19%) and Qatar (18%). In all, 82 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most liquefied natural gas?
China imported $43.02 billion in 2024, 20% of world imports, ahead of Japan (19%) and South Korea (13%). The top three importers together take 52%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in liquefied natural gas?
It was worth $215.87 billion in 2024, about 380.82 million tonnes. That is an increase of 108% since 2017. The peak year was 2022 at $352.95 billion. 82 countries reported exports and 123 reported imports.
What is the average price of liquefied natural gas per kg?
The world average declared value was about $0.57 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Oman averaged $0.64 per kg and Malaysia $0.53 per kg, so grade and origin matter. The average mixes every grade and size, so use it as a market reference rather than an offer.
What is the HS code for liquefied natural gas?
The HS code for liquefied natural gas is subheading 2711.11, in chapter 27 (mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 2711 page.
How can I find liquefied natural gas buyers and suppliers?
EximDataX shows the importers and exporters of liquefied natural gas by name, from shipment-level customs records updated weekly. Ask for a live look at the markets you sell to.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.