Nigeria Strengthens Position as Global LNG Trade Hits Record 437 Million Tonnes | LNG News

Nigeria Strengthens Position as Global LNG Trade Hits Record 437 Million Tonnes

Africa's largest gas exporter posts solid gains as worldwide LNG market reaches historic milestone amid shifting global dynamics

ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria has cemented its status as a global energy heavyweight, with the country's liquefied natural gas exports climbing to 14.8 million tonnes in 2025 as worldwide LNG trade surged to an all-time high of 437 million tonnes, according to the latest industry data.

The International Gas Union's World LNG Report 2026 reveals that global LNG trade expanded by 6.3 per cent over 2024 levels, marking the strongest annual growth since 2022. The expansion was driven largely by increased production from the United States, Qatar, Malaysia, Angola, and Nigeria, while Canada and Mauritania/Senegal joined the ranks of LNG exporting nations for the first time .

Nigeria Holds Firm as Africa's LNG Leader

Nigeria increased its LNG exports by 1.0 million tonnes in 2025 compared to the previous year, securing its position as the world's seventh-largest LNG exporter with a 3.4 per cent share of global exports . The country now ranks behind only the United States, Qatar, Australia, Russia, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

The West African nation remains Africa's biggest LNG supplier, a position it has held for years despite growing competition from emerging producers across the continent. Africa's overall LNG shipments rose by 1.8 million tonnes to 39.77 million tonnes in 2025, supported by stronger production from Nigeria, Angola, Mozambique, and the newly commissioned Mauritania/Senegal LNG project .

Revenue Surge and Strong Export Performance

The numbers translate into significant revenue for Africa's most populous nation. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, Nigeria earned $5.95 billion from exporting 6.09 million tonnes of LNG, with Europe and Asia remaining primary destinations for Nigerian cargoes .

Tracking data from commodities analytics firm Kpler indicates that Portugal and Spain have emerged as key European buyers, with exports to Portugal accounting for 51 per cent of shipments in recent months. The strong demand has been bolstered by a favourable pricing environment, with LNG trading at approximately $935 per tonne .

Global Context: Record Trade, Geopolitical Uncertainty

The record 437 million tonnes of global LNG trade in 2025 represents a remarkable achievement for an industry that has navigated significant challenges . The United States retained its position as the world's largest LNG exporter, supplying 110.7 million tonnes, followed by Qatar with 81.5 million tonnes and Australia with 80.3 million tonnes .

The industry's resilience has been tested in early 2026, however, as escalating conflict in the Middle East disrupted critical supply infrastructure. Iranian missiles struck two liquefaction trains at Qatar's Ras Laffan plant in March 2026, taking approximately 12.8 million tonnes per annum of capacity offline for an estimated three to five years .

Despite these disruptions, analysts note that the global LNG market has demonstrated flexibility not seen during previous energy crises. The ability to redirect cargoes and utilise a growing spot market has helped contain the impact of supply disruptions .

Nigeria's Future Outlook: Expansion on the Horizon

Nigeria's LNG sector is poised for significant growth in the coming years, with major infrastructure projects nearing completion. The Nigeria LNG Train 7 project is now 92 per cent complete and expected to boost export capacity from 22 to 30 million tonnes per annum once commissioned .

Industry experts speaking at the recent Nigeria Oil and Gas Energy Week in Abuja also highlighted the potential impact of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline and potential Trains 8 and 9 expansions .

READ: Nigeria Probes Meta, Google, X, AI Firms Over News Content Use | FCCPC Investigation

The NNPC has set ambitious targets for gas production, aiming to surpass the Federal Government's 12 billion standard cubic feet per day goal by 2030, which would add approximately 4.5 billion standard cubic feet per day to current production levels .

A New Era for African LNG

The IGU's 2026 report paints a picture of an industry entering a new phase of maturity. A total of 68.4 million tonnes per annum of liquefaction capacity reached final investment decisions in 2025, making it the strongest year for project approvals since 2019 .

For Nigeria, the timing is significant. As global energy security concerns mount and European nations seek to diversify their gas supplies away from Russia, the country's vast gas reserves—officially standing at over 210 trillion cubic feet, Africa's largest—position it as a strategic partner for the foreseeable future .

The country's strengthened position in the global LNG trade represents more than just a commercial achievement. It signals Nigeria's emergence as a reliable and growing supplier in a world where energy security has become a paramount concern, offering economic opportunity at home while contributing to global stability abroad.