The Netherlands was the top destination for US LNG exports in May, according to the Department of Energy’s newest LNG monthly report.
The report shows that US terminals shipped 64.5 Bcf of LNG to the Netherlands in May, 51.7 Bcf to France, 31.2 Bcf to Japan, 26.9 Bcf to Argentina, and 25.2 Bcf to the UK.
These five countries took 54.4 percent of total US LNG exports in May.
Previously, the UK was the top destination for US LNG supplies for six months in a row.
The Netherlands has expanded its capacity with the launching of Gasunie’s Eemshaven FSRU-based LNG terminal.
The country’s first FSRU-based terminal adds to the Gate LNG import facility in Rotterdam, also operated by Gasunie and Vopak.
US LNG exports rise 4.4 percent
The US exported in total 366.7 Bcf of LNG in May, up by 4.4 percent compared to the same month last year and a drop of 1.4 percent from the prior month, the DOE report shows.
US terminals shipped 127 LNG cargoes in May, compared to 114 cargoes in May 2022 and 110 cargoes in April this year, according to the report.
Cheniere’s Sabine Pass plant sent 38 cargoes, while its Corpus Christi terminal shipped 18 cargoes in May.
In addition, Cameron LNG dispatched 29 shipments, Freeport LNG sent 28 cargoes, Cove Point LNG sent 11 cargoes, and Elba Island LNG dispatched 3 shipments.
4816 LNG cargoes
According to DOE’s report, the weighted average price by export terminal reached 7.05/MMBtu in May.
Moreover, the report said that in the period from February 2016 through May 2023, the US exported 4816 cargoes or 15,368.6 Bcf to 44 countries.
South Korea remains the top destination for US LNG with 524 cargoes, followed by Japan with 393 cargoes, the UK with 390 cargoes, France with 364 cargoes, and Spain with 371 cargoes.
Spain took more cargoes but less volumes than France, the data shows.
Besides these five countries, China, the Netherlands, India, Turkey, and Brazil are in the top ten as well.