Trinidad and Tobago’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to regional markets edged higher in 2025, reaching 10.7 billion cubic metres (bcm). The increase followed two consecutive years of lower export volumes and reflected a modest recovery in domestic LNG production, even as competition in the global market continued to intensify.
New data from The Energy Institute’s 2026 Statistical Review of World Energy show that South and Central America remained T&T’s largest regional destination, receiving 4.57 bcm of LNG in 2025. Europe imported 3.23 bcm, followed by the Asia-Pacific region with 1.91 bcm. North America accounted for 0.72 bcm, while the Middle East and Africa received a combined 0.29 bcm.
The rise from 10.3 bcm in 2024 to 10.7 bcm in 2025 marks a step in the right direction, although export volumes remain well below the levels seen a decade ago. Over that period, the industry has had to adjust to tighter domestic gas supplies, shifting trade patterns and a growing number of competing LNG suppliers.
Export destinations have also changed. Europe became a much larger market after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 disrupted pipeline gas flows and forced European countries to source more LNG. T&T benefited from that shift because of its established Atlantic Basin position and relatively short shipping distances. Demand has since eased as European gas storage recovered and buyers diversified their supply sources, although the region remains an important destination for Atlantic LNG cargoes.
South and Central America has continued to receive the largest share of T&T’s LNG exports throughout this period. Long-standing commercial relationships with importers, including Chile, along with demand from other Latin American buyers, have helped keep the region a dependable market for Atlantic LNG.
Asia remains another important destination, although it receives a smaller share of T&T’s exports than Atlantic Basin markets. The region continues to account for the largest share of global LNG demand, driven by major importers such as China, Japan and South Korea.
Conditions were more mixed in 2025. The Energy Institute reported that global natural gas demand increased by 1.6 per cent, while gas consumption across the Asia-Pacific region remained broadly unchanged as China expanded domestic production and pipeline imports, reducing its need for LNG.
Competition among exporters also strengthened during the year. According to The Energy Institute, the United States exported 147 bcm of LNG in 2025, up 27 per cent from the previous year. That accounted for roughly one quarter of global LNG exports and reinforced the country’s position as the world’s largest LNG exporter.
The expansion of US export capacity, particularly along the Gulf Coast, has increased the supply of flexible LNG cargoes available to buyers. Importers now have more sourcing options, placing greater competitive pressure on established exporters, including T&T. Qatar is also advancing its North Field expansion, which is expected to bring substantial new LNG volumes to the market later this decade.
Against that backdrop, T&T faces the task of remaining competitive as global supply continues to grow. Buyers are placing greater emphasis on reliable deliveries, competitive pricing and contractual flexibility, particularly as LNG plays a larger role in supporting energy security.
Europe illustrates that trend. The Energy Institute reported that the region still relied on imports for 55 per cent of its natural gas supply in 2025, despite reducing its dependence on Russian pipeline gas after 2022. LNG has become an increasingly important part of Europe’s energy mix, creating continued opportunities for suppliers serving Atlantic markets.
Domestic production also influenced export performance. LNG output increased during 2025 after several years of gas supply constraints, allowing export volumes to recover modestly. Even so, production remains below historical levels as upstream operators work to bring additional gas resources into production.
Projects such as Mento, Manatee and, potentially, Dragon are expected to improve gas availability over the coming years. Their progress will be important for sustaining production at Atlantic LNG while supporting downstream industries and meeting domestic gas demand.
The latest figures point to a year of stabilisation for T&Trather than a return to past export levels. The increase to 10.7 bcm suggests the sector has regained some momentum, but it is operating in a market that looks very different from the one it served a decade ago.
Future growth will depend on more than higher domestic gas production.
Maintaining T&T’s reputation as a reliable Atlantic Basin supplier, securing new gas resources and making full use of existing LNG infrastructure will all play an important role as new export capacity enters the global market over the next several years.
