• Global LNG exports rose 8.3% year on year in December to 40.5 million tons
• Angola, Nigeria, Mauritania, and Senegal were among contributors to the increase
• The US and Canada remained the main drivers of global export growth

Four African countries were among the exporters that contributed to the month-on-month rise in global liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments in December 2025, according to the Monthly Gas Market Report – January 2026 published on January 21 by the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).

The report shows that global LNG exports reached 40.5 million tons in December, representing an 8.3% increase year on year. Angola, Nigeria, Mauritania, and Senegal were listed among the suppliers involved in this increase.

The GECF said exported cargoes were mainly absorbed by Europe and the Asia-Pacific region during the month. The data presented reflect observed volumes only and do not include projections or forward estimates.

The United States and Canada drive most of the increase

While several African exporters contributed to the rise, they were not the main drivers. The GECF said the increase was largely fueled by the United States, the world’s largest LNG exporter, along with Canada.

The report links the higher export volumes to stronger seasonal demand at year-end and a rebalancing of flows between Europe and Asia. In the short term, global LNG market conditions remain dependent on weather patterns, storage levels, and regional price spreads, which could influence cargo destinations in early 2026, the GECF said.

Separate projections reported by Reuters on January 21, based on data from S&P Global Energy, Kpler, and Rystad Energy, indicate that the global LNG market could add about 35 million tons of new capacity in 2026.

This increase would represent a nearly 10% rise in global LNG production capacity compared with 2025. It is linked to the start-up of new projects in the United States, Qatar, Canada, and parts of West Africa, including Senegal and Mauritania.

According to these projections, the additional supply could put downward pressure on international LNG prices. Forecast price levels are estimated at around $9.50 to $9.90 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) in some markets.

Abdel-Latif Boureima