Global LNG imports declined significantly by 8.8 percent year-on-year to 34.29 Mt in August, as the ongoing Middle East conflict continued to constrain global LNG trade, the Gas Exporting Countries Forum said in its latest report.
Doha-based GECF said the decline was driven by weaker imports in Asia and the Middle East and Africa, while Europe’s LNG imports remained broadly stable compared with a year earlier.
GECF noted that the ongoing Middle East conflict continued to constrain global LNG trade, as restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz suppressed LNG exports from Qatar and the UAE.
Between January and August 2026, global LNG imports declined by 1.2 percent (3.51 Mt) y-o-y to 281.75 Mt.
Lower LNG supply from the Middle East amid the conflict weighed particularly on imports into Asia and Europe, it said.
European LNG imports edge up
In August 2026, Europe’s LNG imports edged up by 0.5 percent (0.04 Mt) y-o-y to 7.99 Mt, reversing five consecutive months of y-o-y declines, GECF said.
The modest recovery was supported by a narrowing of the spot LNG price spread between Asia and Europe, which encouraged a rebound in US LNG flows to Europe after cargoes had increasingly shifted towards Asia in previous months, GECF said.
At the country level, higher LNG imports in Croatia, Italy and Spain drove the regional increase, offsetting declines in Belgium, France, Lithuania and Poland.
GECF said the increase in Croatia’s LNG imports was driven by higher supplies from Norway and Trinidad and Tobago, while a significant rise in US LNG deliveries boosted imports in Italy and Spain.
Conversely, lower Russian LNG supplies contributed to weaker imports in Belgium and France, as Russia’s LNG exports to Europe declined y-o-y while its exports to Asia increased.
In Lithuania, the decline reflected lower LNG imports from West Africa and the US, while Poland’s imports fell due to reduced Qatari LNG supply amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, GECF said.
For the period January to August 2026, Europe’s LNG imports reached 82.65 Mt, representing a decline of 2.7 percent y-o-y (2.31 Mt).
Asian LNG imports down
Asia’s LNG imports fell by 8.2 percent (2.06 Mt) y-o-y to 23.04 Mt in August, reversing two consecutive months of growth, according to GECF.
The decline was driven by a combination of lower LNG supply from Qatar and the UAE amid the Middle East conflict, a narrow Asia-Europe spot price spread, and elevated spot LNG prices, which discouraged some spot LNG buying, it said.
Imports fell mainly in Bangladesh, China, Japan, Pakistan, Singapore and South Korea, while India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand recorded significant increases, GECF said.
The decline in Bangladesh’s LNG imports was attributed to a technical outage at one of its floating storage and regasification units.
Lower Qatari LNG supplies contributed to weaker imports in China, Japan, Pakistan, Singapore and South Korea, while elevated spot LNG prices also discouraged spot purchases in several North East Asian markets, GECF said.
Conversely, India’s LNG imports increased on stronger gas demand from the fertilizer sector, while higher intra-country trade boosted imports in Indonesia and Malaysia, GECF said.
In Thailand, LNG imports rose on stronger gas demand for power generation, lower pipeline gas imports and stable domestic gas production.
For the period January to August 2026, Asia’s LNG imports fell by 1.6 percent (2.89 Mt) y-o-y to 175.16 Mt, GECF said.
Latin America and MEA
GECF said that LNG imports in Latin America and the Caribbean remained stable at 1.47 Mt, unchanged from a year earlier.
A sharp decline in Brazil’s LNG imports was offset by higher imports in Colombia and the Dominican Republic, according to GECF.
Furthermore, Honduras joined the club of LNG importers in August.
Brazil’s LNG imports fell mainly due to an outage at the GNA II gas-fired power plant at Açu Port in Rio de Janeiro, which reduced imports through the Acu LNG terminal, GECF said.
Conversely, Colombia’s LNG imports increased on stronger gas demand for power generation amid lower hydro levels associated with El Nino, alongside declining domestic gas production.
Similarly, higher gas demand for power generation supported stronger LNG imports in the Dominican Republic.
From January to August 2026, LAC’s LNG imports grew by 2 percent (0.19 Mt) y-o-y to 9.48 Mt, GECF said.
Moreover, LNG imports in the Middle East and Africa fell by 38 percent (1.09 Mt) y-o-y to 1.80 Mt, the first y-o-y decrease since December 2023, GECF said.
Weaker LNG imports in Bahrain and Kuwait drove the decline, which was partially offset by higher imports in Egypt.
GECF said the Middle East conflict has weighed on Bahrain and Kuwait’s LNG imports, while robust gas demand and lower domestic gas production continue to support stronger LNG imports in Egypt.
From January to August 2026, MEA’s LNG imports rose by 10 percent (1.25 Mt) y-o-y to 13.31 Mt.
LNG exports drop
In August 2026, global LNG exports declined by 6.6 percent (2.40 Mt) y-o-y to 33.87 Mt, although the pace of decline moderated compared with July, GECF said.
Ongoing restrictions on LNG transit through the Strait of Hormuz amid the Middle East conflict continued to constrain Middle Eastern supply and weigh on global exports.
Higher exports from non-GECF countries were insufficient to offset lower exports from GECF member countries, it said.
The US, Australia and Russia were the world’s three largest LNG exporters during the month.
As a result, the share of global LNG supply from non-GECF countries increased from 56.4 percent in August 2025 to 69.4 percent in August 2026, while the share of LNG re-exports edged up from 0.6 percent to 0.7 percent, GECF said.
Conversely, the share of GECF member countries fell sharply from 43 percent to 29.9 percent.
Between January and August 2026, global LNG exports declined by 1.7 percent (4.76 Mt) y-o-y to 279.32 Mt, driven by lower exports from GECF member countries, GECF said. (September 30, 2026, Source: https://lngprime.com/americas/gecf-lng-imports-down-significantly-in-august/197690/)
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