Europe remains the main destination for US LNG, accounting for 6.16 million tons, or 66% of the total, up from 5.25 million tons.
US liquified natural gas (LNG) exports hit a record high in August as plants finished their maintenance and Venture Global’s Plaquemines increased its production, according to preliminary data from the financial company London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG).
Plaquemines is the second-largest LNG plant in the US, with a yearly capacity of 27.2 million tons. Since opening in December 2024, it has slowly increased its output every month, helping the US become the world’s top LNG exporter. In August, it sold 1.6 million tons, making up 17% of US exports.
In August, exports reached a total of 9.33 million metric tons, surpassing the previous monthly record of 9.25 million tons set in April and exceeding the exports of 9.1 million tons in July, according to LSEG data.
The Plaquemines plant is not fully constructed, but it is anticipated to operate at full capacity from all 18 plants in September, which will further boost output, based on regulatory filings.
Meanwhile, Europe’s natural gas storage levels this year are lower than in 2024. Without the usual rush to build reserves before winter, reduced imports from Asia gave European traders and governments more opportunities to buy fuel.
With little price gap between European and Asian gas markets, Europe remains the main destination for US LNG, accounting for 6.16 million tons, or 66% of the total, up from 5.25 million tons, or 58%, in July, according to LSEG ship data.
European gas prices decreased in August to $11.13 per million British thermal units at the Dutch Title Transfer Facility, down from $11.56 per million British thermal units, according to LSEG data.
Asian gas prices also reduced in August, with the benchmark Japan Korea Marker falling to $11.63 per million British thermal units from $12.18, according to LSEG data.
Exports to Asia decreased slightly in August, from 1.8 million tons in July to 1.47 million tons in August.
Egypt has been experiencing a decline in natural gas production, reaching a low of 3,485 million standard cubic meters in April 2025, compared to its peak of 6,133 million standard cubic meters in March 2021.
In June, the nation announced plans to increase LNG imports to satisfy power demand.
According to a statement from the Egyptian cabinet on Wednesday, the country plans to import liquefied natural gas from July 2025 to June 2026, as it intensifies its purchasing efforts to meet increasing power demand, despite the government’s financial constraints.
Egypt has secured agreements with several energy companies and trading firms to acquire 150 to 160 LNG cargoes, supplementing its domestic output and pipeline imports from Israel, according to industry sources.
Egypt procured nine LNG cargoes totaling 0.57 million tons, representing 6% of total US LNG exports, slightly lower than the 0.59 million tons it bought in July, according to LSEG ship tracking data.
Elsewhere, in August, US LNG exports to Latin America decreased to 0.69 million tons, or 7% of total exports, down from 1.03 million tons in July, as the region was well-supplied by Trinidad and Tobago, where the Shell and BP-operated Atlantic LNG plant has been operating at increased rates since June, exporting 0.8 million tons in August, based on LSEG data.
Shell‘s LNG Canada facility at Kitimat on the West Coast of Canada continued to boost exports from its Train 1, with five shipments totaling 0.4 million tons in August, an increase from 0.3 million tons in July, as per LSEG data.
Four percent of US LNG exports, equating to 0.37 million tons, left US ports without specified destinations, indicating they were available for orders, according to LSEG ship tracking data.