New LNG markets prove tough nuts to crack
Floating storage and regasification has reduced entry barriers for aspiring LNG importers. But opening up a new market remains a tricky business
Most of the growth in LNG trade over the coming decades will be in Asia-Pacific. Imports into China are set to double and deliveries to South Asia to triple. However, the fastest-growing region will be Southeast Asia, according to Shell’s latest long-term LNG Outlook. It predicts that imports into the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will grow by a staggering 553pc from 15mn t in 2020 to 98mn t in 2040. “Growth in demand is expected to come mainly from emerging markets and new entrants to the industry, such as the Philippines and Vietnam, who are only just starting to build the infrastructure needed to import LNG,” says Maarten Wetselaar, director of Shell’s In
Also in this section
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls
28 April 2026
Datacentres will guzzle power at a ferocious rate, but the impact on wider energy markets will be far more complex than previously thought
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security






