U.S. Becomes Largest LPG Exporter Worldwide
Shipments from the United States reached 55.4% of global LPG volumes in January through September 2026 as Chinese imports fell.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Oil and Gas
The United States became the world's largest liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) exporter in January through September 2026, accounting for 55.4% of global LPG volumes. The shift came as Mainland China's LPG imports declined 28.1% year-over-year.
Why it matters
The change reflects a reshaping of global LPG trade flows, with American supply moving to new buyers as traditional import demand softens. For importing regions, it signals growing reliance on U.S. supply.
United States LPG exports rose 6.3% year-over-year to 56.9 million tonnes in January through September 2026, with Houston the top loading port at 24.4 million tonnes. Shipments from the U.S. to India surged 282.1% over the same period.
The details
Houston was the leading U.S. LPG loading port, followed by Beaumont and Freeport. About 79.6% of U.S. LPG volumes were carried on very large gas carriers (VLGCs), while Mainland China accounted for 16.4% of U.S. seaborne LPG exports. Imports to the European Union fell 3.3% and to South Korea fell 15.5%, while Japan's were essentially unchanged.
Timeline
2019: U.S. LPG trade to China halted, falling to 0.3 million tonnes.
2020: The United States became China's top LPG supplier, shipping 6.2 million tonnes.
2024: U.S. shipments to China peaked at 19.7 million tonnes.
2025: U.S. LPG exports to China fell 39.9% to 11.8 million tonnes.
January-September 2026: U.S. LPG exports reached 56.9 million tonnes.
Market Landscape
U.S. LPG exports to China have swung sharply since 2019, from a halt to a peak of 19.7 million tonnes in 2024 and a 39.9% drop in 2025. The redirection of supply toward India and other buyers is now reshaping the global LPG market.
Shifts in LPG trade can affect the cost and availability of the gas used for cooking and heating in importing regions. Buyers in markets where imports are rising may face different supply conditions than those where imports have declined.
The takeaway
Global LPG flows are being redirected as Chinese demand softens and buyers such as India expand purchases. Tracking these shifts helps explain changes in energy supply and pricing across regions.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Oil and Gas section for context on global fuel trade flows.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hellenic Shipping News.
