Natural Gas Exports by Country 2022 (Top 50 Countries)

The 2022 natural gas market was anything but boring. War, energy price spikes, and new trade relationships flipped the usual script in a matter of months.

Let’s break down which countries led the way in exports of this vital energy source and why it mattered so much last year. We’ll also explore what these numbers really mean for real people and businesses around the world.

The Power Shift in Natural Gas

Back in 2022, the U.S. jumped to first place as the world’s top natural gas exporter, sending out a huge 195,000 million cubic meters. For context, that’s a feat no one would’ve predicted twenty years ago when America was still importing a lot of gas.

This leap occurred due to the American shale revolution. There were also significant investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities, particularly along the Gulf Coast.

Russia, long the global “gas king,” kept a strong second-place showing at 176,000 million cubic meters. Yet, that was a significant drop from previous years—thanks mainly to fallout after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Europe, a major Russian customer, began cutting those ties quickly. This caused a scramble across the globe as everyone rushed to secure new suppliers.

Key Players: Region by Region

North America: The Shale Story

The U.S. was the big winner in North America, with a significant increase in LNG exports. America shipped its gas to 46 countries, and Europe became the leading customer as it sought to wean itself off Russian energy completely. Most U.S. gas heads out through massive terminals, including Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi.

Canada plays a quieter but crucial role. Almost all U.S. natural gas imports still come via Canadian pipelines, and in 2022, Canada exported approximately 85 billion cubic meters, mainly to its southern neighbor. High demand and spiking prices meant big money for the Canadians that year.

Europe: Rewiring the Grid

European countries together exported 378,000 million cubic meters. Norway was the region’s backbone for natural gas, exporting 121,000 million cubic meters. After Russia’s market share crashed, Norway’s pipelines became more valuable than ever, especially for EU energy security.

• The Netherlands, even with its famous Groningen field closing, still exported 43,000 billion cubic meters. It has become a more significant transit and trading hub, facilitating the movement of gas from global markets to the rest of Europe.
• The UK hit a record 23,000 million cubic meters by turning itself into a “land bridge,” importing LNG and re-exporting it to the mainland.
• France, with 15,000 million cubic meters, benefited from its LNG terminals and played a big part in keeping Europe’s energy network running.

The key takeaway here is how quickly Europe adapted when Russian supply lines were disrupted. It wasn’t always smooth, but resourcefulness, trade, and infrastructure investments paid off.

Middle East: LNG Superstars

Qatar held its ground as the king of LNG in the Middle East—exporting 126,000 billion cubic meters. Qatar’s giant “North Field” kept the gas flowing, and the country now aims to double its export capacity by the end of this decade.

Iran managed to export 19,000 million cubic meters by pipeline, mostly to nearby countries. Even with sanctions and obstacles, they grew exports by 9% that year, primarily shipping gas to Iraq, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.

Asia Pacific: Filling LNG Demand

Australia shipped 106 billion cubic meters, maintaining its position as one of the top global LNG suppliers. Japan and China are its largest customers, and despite regulatory hurdles at home, Australian gas was essential in 2022.

Malaysia, another top exporter, managed 39,000 million cubic meters of LNG. But there’s a shift: they’ve started importing LNG themselves to meet growing domestic needs.

Indonesia put 22,000 million cubic meters onto the market, sending much of it to China, South Korea, and Japan. The government states that future output will likely be allocated to domestic users to support economic growth.

Africa: Emerging Gas Giants

Africa isn’t as large as some regions in terms of exports, but it’s on the rise. Algeria topped African nations with 50,000 million cubic meters, sending both LNG and piped gas to Europe. That became especially important as Europe rushed to sever its ties with Russian pipelines.

Nigeria exported 20,000 million cubic meters and sits poised for significant expansion by 2025. With big discoveries and new infrastructure, Nigeria could become a true gas powerhouse on the continent.

Central Asia: The Pipeline Connectors

Turkmenistan leads in Central Asia, producing 45,000 billion cubic meters—most of it destined for China through massive pipelines. The country’s planning a big production boost for 2029.

Azerbaijan sent 22 billion cubic meters of gas through the Southern Gas Corridor to Europe, more than doubling its gas revenues in the process.

Game-Changing Technology & New Trade Patterns

LNG technology drives the long-haul, international gas business. Floating LNG (FLNG) is unlocking remote gas fields, making it easier and more cost-effective to transport gas from the ocean to the market.

Pipeline infrastructure remains crucial regionally. Consider North America’s cross-border pipeline grid and Europe’s extensive network, stretching from Norway to Spain.

Shipping got trickier in 2022. With demand skyrocketing, charter rates for LNG tankers broke records, and ports everywhere faced long wait times for unloading.

Price Surges and Market Shocks

European gas prices soared in 2022. With Russian supplies drying up, countries paid much more to secure LNG. Imports into the EU from outside the continent jumped by 73%. On the other hand, Asian LNG demand declined in countries such as Japan and China, as buyers reduced their purchases to conserve funds.

Energy Security, Geopolitics, and the Human Side

Energy security hasn’t been this important in decades. The crisis in 2022 showed just how much Europe depends on a few big suppliers. It also highlighted why it’s essential to have several trade partners, even if it can cost more.

Having multiple partners matters more than ever. Europe now relies more on the U.S., Qatar, and Norway. Its new deals with Azerbaijan and Algeria have also changed supply routes and international relationships.

The Impact on Real Life

All these numbers aren’t just business—they touch everyday people.

• European families worried about staying warm as prices continued to climb.
• American workers at LNG terminals and pipeline crews had record workloads.
• Engineers in Qatar worked overtime expanding the world’s biggest gas field.
• Technicians in Norway kept thousands of miles of pipeline running with military-level discipline.

Looking Ahead

The trends established in 2022 are likely to persist. More countries will look to diversify their sources of gas. LNG plants in the U.S. and Qatar are being expanded fast, and new trade partnerships are in the works.

A key point: the top three exporters—America, Russia, and Qatar—accounted for almost half of the world’s gas shipments from the largest 16 countries. That concentration means the world still relies heavily on a handful of players.

Natural gas exports in 2022 were about more than just politics, business, and technology. They were also about everyday people feeling the impact—at home, at work and in government offices where tough decisions had to be made.

The story of that year’s energy market is one of adaptation, resilience and how global trade affects real lives.

Here is the full list of natural gas exports by country in 2022:

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