The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) anticipates continued growth in US LNG exports, supported by the commissioning and ramp-up of five LNG export projects by the end of 2027 (EIA presentation, 16/04/2026). The current US peak LNG export capacity stands at nearly 140 Mt/year. By 2027, several projects are expected to expand this capacity:
- In 2026, Corpus Christi Stage 3 will commission trains 5–7 (4.4 Mt/year combined), while Golden Pass LNG will bring online its first two trains (10.2 Mt/year).
- Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 (11.7 Mt/year), Rio Grande LNG Trains 1 & 2 (10.2 Mt/year), and the final train of Golden Pass LNG (5.1 Mt/year) are all scheduled to begin exports in 2027.
- In addition, Plaquemines LNG and Elba Island LNG received approval from the DOE in March and April 2026 to increase their authorized export volumes by 3.7 Mt/year and 0.7 Mt/year, respectively.
The EIA projects that US LNG exports will increase by more than 14 Mt/year in 2026, reaching an average of 130 Mt/year, followed by a further 9% rise (11 Mt/year) in 2027.
It expects US LNG export terminals to operate at slightly higher utilisation rates in 2026, even though they were already running at relatively elevated levels in 2025, as recent disruptions to LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz are boosting demand for cargoes sourced outside the strait.
These disruptions, primarily affecting Qatar, currently exceed 76 Mt/year, representing around 20% of global supply. In addition, Qatar suffered damage to 17% of its export capacity following a March 2026 attack on the Ras Laffan LNG export facility, which impacted two liquefaction trains. QatarEnergy estimates that repairs could take up to five years.
In 2025, US LNG exports to Europe reached a record 78 Mt/year, up from 48 Mt/year in 2024, accounting for 68% of total LNG export volumes, according to EIA data. Exports to Asia declined from 30 Mt/year in 2024 to 19 Mt/year in 2025, representing 16% of total volumes. US LNG exports to China dropped to zero in 2025, compared with 4.5 Mt/year in 2024, as traders redirected cargoes amid trade tensions. Meanwhile, exports to Egypt surged fourfold, rising from 2.3 Mt/year in 2024 to 9 Mt/year in 2025, contributing to a 5 Mt/year increase in exports to the rest of the world.
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