Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade grew by 10 percent last year due primarily to growing liquefaction capacity in Australia and the United States, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Monday.

LNG trade reached 38.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2017, up 3.5 bcfd from 2016 and the largest annual volume increase on record, the EIA said, citing the Annual Report on LNG trade by the International Association of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL). Nigeria through Nigeria LNG Limited was also said to have increased LNG exports from its Bonny Island facility in 2017.

New liquefaction export capacity commissioned in Australia, the United States and Russia, collectively added 3.4 bcfd of liquefaction capacity. Including additions in the United States and Australia, liquefaction projects currently under construction are projected to increase global capacity by 13.5 bcfd by 2022, EIA said. In 2017, there were 19 LNG exporting countries and 40 importing countries.

Source: Reuters