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shell LNG outlook 2025

Shell LNG Outlook 2025

Global demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) is forecast to rise by around 60% by 2040, largely driven by economic growth in Asia, emissions reductions in heavy industry and transport as well as the impact of artificial intelligence.

Global LNG trade grew by only 2 million tonnes in 2024, the lowest annual increase in 10 years, to reach 407 million tonnes due to constrained new supply development.

More than 170 million tonnes of new LNG supply are set to be available by 2030, helping to meet stronger gas demand, especially in Asia, but start-up timings of new LNG projects are uncertain.

Explore the key facts and figures from this years' Outlook in our short video.

Video transcript

0:04

Shell LNG Outlook 2025, an annual report that examines key trends in the global liquefied natural gas industry during the previous year and the emerging picture for future global supply and demand.


0:20
Global LNG trade increased marginally to 407 million tons in 2024, an increase of just 2 million tons from 2023, the lowest annual increase in 10 years.


0:34
China took advantage of lower prices early in the year.


0:37
In total, it imported 79 million tons during the year, nearing its peak imports in 2021.


0:46
India increased annual imports to a record high of 27 million tons, a 20% increase from 2023.


0:55
This was to help meet strong power demand due to hot weather in early summer.


1:01
European imports fell by 23 million tonnes, or 18%, due to more renewable energy generation and strong withdrawals from gas storage.


1:11
Winter temperatures in late 2024 triggered more LNG buying.


1:16
With expiry of Russian pipeline flows to Europe through Ukraine at the end of the year, Europe will need more LNG in 2025.


1:26
More than 170 million tons of new LNG supply is expected to come onto the market by 20-30, but start up timings of new LNG projects are uncertain.


1:38
Demand in Asia continues to gather pace, with China and India building out regasification infrastructure and planning to add new gas connections to millions of people by 20-30.


1:51
Ship owners are increasingly turning to LNG powered vessels.


1:55
LNG bunkering is estimated to reach more than 16,000,000 tonnes by 20-30.


2:02
Europe will continue to need LNG through the rest of this decade as member states are forecast to fall short of the EU ambitions for solar, wind, hydrogen and heat pumps.

2:16
By 2040, reduced gas production and growing domestic demand could risk up to 48 million tonnes of LNG exports from traditional producers including Egypt, Algeria, Indonesia and Malaysia, creating further demand for new LNG supply.

2:33
To find out more, download the full report.

Explore the Shell LNG Outlook 2025

Shell LNG Outlook 2025 Webcast

Join Tom Summers, SVP Shell LNG Marketing & Trading, and Cederic Cremers, EVP LNG, as they discuss the 2025 Outlook.

Read previous LNG Outlooks

Frequently asked questions

What is the Shell LNG Outlook?

The Shell LNG Outlook is an annual report produced by Shell which focuses on the key trends in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market over the previous year and highlights key trends that are shaping the future market. The report is now in its ninth year.

Why is LNG important?

Many people in need of energy are located far from gas fields, making pipelines too impractical or costly to build. To get around this problem, natural gas can be cooled, shrinking its volume for easier, safer storage and shipping overseas. This cooled natural gas is LNG.

What proportion of natural gas demand is met by LNG?

In 2024, around 13% of global natural gas demand was met through LNG supplies.

How is Shell involved in LNG?

Shell is one of the leading LNG suppliers globally, being involved in every stage of the value chain. We have a major interest in two regasification plants - Hazira in India and Dragon in the UK – and long-term access to capacity in several others in Europe, the Middle East and North America. Our trading operation buys and sells LNG to and from Shell, its partners and third parties.

Shell is also one of the world’s largest LNG shipping operators, managing and operating more than 18 carriers and with 65 on time-charter. Combined, these LNG carriers comprise around 10% of the global LNG shipping fleet.

How much LNG was traded globally in 2024?

In total, around 407 million tonnes of LNG was traded globally during 2024, an increase of around seven million tonnes from the previous year.

Which country imported the most LNG in 2024?

China was the single largest importer of LNG in 2024. It imported 79 million tonnes of LNG during 2024, an 8.6% increase compared to the previous year.

Which was the largest export country?

The USA was the largest exporter and is set to nearly double its exports by 2030.

Is there sufficient LNG supply to meet the demand?

During the course of 2024 the global LNG market remained tight due to project delays which limited new LNG supply. More than 170 million tonnes of LNG is set to come online by 2030, but the start-up timings of new projects remain uncertain. 

What are LNG exports?

LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state at about -162°C (-260°F). This process reduces its volume by around 600 times, making it easier and safer to store and transport.

LNG can be loaded on to ships, called LNG carriers, for delivery to countries which are in need of additional natural gas. The LNG is then regasified and delivered to a range of end-users through the local gas distribution network. 

What is LNG used for?

LNG is used to transport natural gas to countries around the world that do not have domestic supplies of natural gas or are unable to receive imports of natural gas via pipelines. 

LNG is becoming a cost-effective fuel for shipping and road transport which can bring down emission compared to oil-based fuels. For example, in the marine sector, a growing order book of LNG-powered vessels will see demand from this market rise to more than 16 million tonnes a year by 2030. 

How is LNG produced?

LNG is natural gas that has been cooled down in stages using a series of heat exchangers until it condenses into a liquid at about -162°C (-260°F). This process reduces its volume by around 600 times.

Where are LNG plants located?

LNG plants are located in countries that have plentiful reserves of natural gas which can meet their domestic gas demand and have more gas volumes for LNG exports. See here for details on the LNG plants in which Shell has an interest in.

Does India import LNG? Where is LNG used in India?

India bought record volumes to help meet stronger power demand due to hotter weather in early summer. Its imports rose to 27 million tonnes, a 20% increase from 2023. India imports LNG to increase its natural gas supply which is used for power-generation, cooking and heating purposes and to meet industrial demand around the country. 

When will LNG Canada be completed?

LNG Canada is set to start up during the course of 2025. It is an LNG export facility in Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada, in the traditional territory of the Haisla Nation. It will initially consist of two LNG processing units referred to as “trains”. 

Is LNG used to power ships?

LNG is becoming a cost-effective fuel for shipping which can bring down emission compared to oil-based fuels. A growing order book of LNG-powered vessels will see demand from this market rise to more than 16 million tonnes a year by 2030. Shell is investing in the marine transport sector and provides LNG refueling, or bunkering, in 26 locations around the world. To find out more, please click here

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Is Shell involved in supplying LNG for ships?

Our LNG bunkering network operates 12 bunkering vessels in 26 locations around the world, meeting the fueling needs of an increasing number of LNG-powered vessels. To find out more, click here

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Does Shell have its own LNG carriers?

With 66 LNG carriers, Shell operates nearly 10% of the global LNG fleet and on average loads around 2 LNG cargos every day. To find out more about our LNG marketing and trading business click here

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Cautionary note

The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this LNG Outlook “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Group” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this Outlook refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. The term “joint venture”, “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and “associates” may also be used to refer to a commercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct or indirect ownership interest with one or more parties. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

Forward-Looking Statements

This LNG Outlook contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”; “ambition”; ‘‘anticipate’’; ‘‘believe’’; “commit”; “commitment”; ‘‘could’’; ‘‘estimate’’; ‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; ‘‘objectives’’; ‘‘outlook’’; ‘‘plan’’; ‘‘probably’’; ‘‘project’’; ‘‘risks’’; “schedule”; ‘‘seek’’; ‘‘should’’; ‘‘target’’; ‘‘will’’; “would” and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this Outlook, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, regional conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, and a significant cybersecurity breach; and (n) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this Outlook are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this Outlook and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this Outlook, February 25, 2025. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this Outlook.

Shell’s Net Carbon Intensity

Also, in this Outlook we may refer to Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” (NCI), which includes Shell’s carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers’ carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers’ carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associated with the production and use of energy products produced by others which Shell purchases for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the terms Shell’s “Net Carbon Intensity” or NCI are for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.

Shell’s net-zero emissions target

Shell’s operating plan, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI targets over the next ten years. However, Shell’s operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target, as this target is currently outside our planning period. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell’s operating plans to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.

Forward-Looking non-GAAP measures

This Outlook may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc’s consolidated financial statements.

The contents of websites referred to in this report do not form part of this LNG Outlook.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this Outlook that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov

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