Best Source for B2B Industry Trends, News and Updates
LNG stands for Liquefied Natural Gas, which is produced in industries by cooling natural gas to convert it into a liquid form, making it easier to transport from one place to another. The primary purpose of changing the state of gas is to make it accessible in areas without pipeline connections. LNG can be transported from one place to another, across oceans, to generate electricity and use it for several purposes of production and manufacturing.
The LNG demand is rising. There are several reasons, such as prioritizing the use of clean energy resources. LNG gas is a source of cleaner energy around Asia, Europe, and beyond.
LNG is cooled to a temperature around -162 degrees centigrade. However, the challenge isn’t just producing LNG; it’s connecting with reliable buyers who need long-term contracts. Finding genuine buyers of liquefied natural gas is important because it requires significant effort and substantial capital investment to set up LNG extraction facilities. This blog examines the demand, trade insights, and proven strategies for reaching LNG buyers worldwide.
According to Shell, the global demand for liquefied natural gas is estimated to rise by around 60% by 2040. The demand is largely driven by economic growth in Asia, as well as the reduction of emissions in heavy industry and transport, and the impact of artificial intelligence. More than 170 million tonnes of new LNG supply are set to be available by 2030. This high indication of LNG is expected to help meet increasing gas demand, particularly in Asia.
The global LNG market size in 2025 is estimated to be between $131.14 billion and $153.65 billion, with a volume of approximately 511 million tonnes per annum. The key exporters are Qatar, Australia, and the United States, alongside Russia, dominating the LNG exports. Regarding future scope, demand is expected from the African and South Asian regions. LNG is a new form of modern and renewable energy that will be implemented worldwide in the near future.
Meanwhile, the global importer includes Japan, China, South Korea, and India. Europe is also increasing imports. Germany, the UK, France, and Spain are importing LNG due to energy security concerns.
Japan is one of the biggest importers of LNG. In 2023, Japan imported 66.2 million metric tons of LNG. The imports have been done for heavy power generation in the region, which is highly dependent on LNG. They also utilize LNG gas in residential heating. Japan has a high dependency on LNG imports.
China has surpassed Japan to become the world's largest LNG importer. It uses LNG gas in power production and industrial manufacturing. China has been utilizing LNG as a more sustainable alternative to other energy sources, driven by its high energy needs. In 2023, China imported 9.5 billion cubic feet per day from Australia and Qatar.
South Korea is listed among the top 3 importers of LNG worldwide. South Korea has limited resources to produce its own LNG and import to run heavy industries, power plants, and petrochemical industries. The country imports approximately 26.796 million tons in 2024 from the USA.
Many countries in Europe, including Germany, the UK, and France, use imported LNG to run their power plants and reduce their dependence on Russian pipelines. All of these countries have a diversified usage of LNG in various industries. Europe imported 20.9 million tonnes of LNG from the US in 2024.
To find genuine LNG gas buyers in all the above-mentioned countries, you can use certain ways to reach out. We have discussed some of the proven ways to reach LNG buyers:
One of the easiest ways to get in touch with LNG buyers is through B2B marketplaces. These websites enable you to gain a deeper understanding of buyers and their purchasing trends. Here are some examples of top B2B marketplaces to find importers of LNG:
Tradewheel is a B2B marketplace that lists active inquiries for LNG and liquified natural gas products. For example, there are buyer requests for Liquefied Natural Gas Buyers and import contracts. This makes Tradewheel one of the more effective platforms for finding serious LNG buyers. Suppliers can post offers and view RFQs from a variety of countries, including Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Due to its focus on industrial and commodity goods, Tradewheel attracts buyers who are already seeking large-scale gas and fuel deals.
Alibaba is one of the largest global B2B marketplaces, especially strong for connecting suppliers with buyers in Asia, but also worldwide. It's good for exposure for many importers browsing Alibaba for industrial, fuel-related, and chemical commodity offerings. If you list LNG or LNG-adjacent equipment, you may reach potential smaller to mid-scale buyers or even brokers interested in bulk deals. However, because Alibaba has a broad lead. Success depends on a very precise product listing, clear compliance documentation, and ensuring you’re targeting serious energy and fuel buyers rather than general trading companies.
Global Trade Plaza is another B2B marketplace to find LNG buyers. The platform can help with lead generation through its buyer-seller directory and export-import listing features. Suppliers with an appealing profile and strong credentials might attract companies exploring LNG procurement indirectly through agents and local distributor networks. It is particularly helpful, especially for establishing initial connections or smaller-scale contracts, as for large LNG volumes, success likely depends on how well the supplier presents certifications, delivery capability, and credibility.
EC21 is another global B2B marketplace widely used for trading industrial products, fuels, and energy commodities. LNG suppliers can promote their services, receive buyer inquiries, and connect with companies in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. With millions of active users, EC21 facilitates easier access to international LNG demand and helps secure long-term buyers. It provides company verification services, trade alerts, and product posting options that increase visibility for LNG exporters. EC21 is especially popular in South Korea and other Asian countries, making it suitable for targeting buyers in the region’s high-demand LNG markets.
ThomasNet is focused on industrial supplies, manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers in North America. For LNG-related infrastructure, such as tanks, cryogenic equipment, compressors, valves, and storage facilities. ThomasNet is very strong. Buyers who need physical components or LNG-handling equipment often search here. If your business supplies those kinds of products, ThomasNet is excellent for reaching serious industrial buyers, commodity traders, shipping lines, and large importers, who tend to utilize industry-specific energy networks, brokers, and specialized fuel-trade platforms.
To learn more about LNG contractors, consider attending energy trade shows and expos. Events like Gastech, LNG Asia Pacific, and other exhibitions for building better networks in the industry. Tradeshows are the best way to connect with suppliers, distributors, and LNG importers directly for business and other discussions.
In most countries, LNG is traded under the supervision of government authorities. Getting in touch with official authorities and learning more about tenders can help you find more information regarding the trade.
Developing connections with local distributors and LNG suppliers can help you get the market insights on the spot. This way, you can obtain firsthand information and a quick, real-time supply of LNG gas. These local LNG distributors can help you build better relationships with importers and buyers through their connections, which can be really stable for new business.
You can start by using social networking websites, such as LinkedIn, and others, to gather market insights and connect with LNG buyers and importers personally by joining relevant groups. Through these platforms, you can directly get in touch with power plant owners, industrialists, and shipping companies who are dependent on LNG supply.
Developed nations like China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, and the UK are the largest buyers of LNG.
Shell PLC is the largest trader of LNG in the world.
The current market price of LNG in September is $11.50 per million British thermal units.
LNG is a renewable energy source that is more sustainable than other natural resources. LNG is in high demand worldwide and has a significant scope for business success. We have discussed the top proven methods for finding buyers worldwide. These methods include searching for buyers on B2B marketplaces, attending energy expos, and contacting local LNG distributors. We have also mentioned the countries with higher LNG demand that are set to start exporting.
