USA to be top-3 LNG exporter by 2020: EIA

The USA has exported almost four times as much LNG in 2017 as during 2016, the US Energy Information Administration announced on Tuesday.

Total exports last year averaged 54.9 mcm (1.94 bcf) per day, up from 14.2 mcm (500 mcf) per day the year before. The increase is primarily attributable to two LNG terminals that came on stream after 2016, Sabine Pass in Louisiana and Cove Point in Maryland, the release added.

“Almost 60% of US LNG in 2017 was sold on a spot basis to more than 20 countries in Asia, North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and the Caribbean,” the EIA said.

“Four more projects are scheduled to come online in the next two years: Elba Island LNG in Georgia and Cameron LNG in Louisiana in 2018, then Freeport LNG and Corpus Christi LNG in Texas in 2019…. As export capacity continues to increase, the United States is projected to become the third-largest LNG exporter in the world by 2020, surpassing Malaysia and remaining behind only Australia and Qatar.”