Faster, cheaper US LNG
Expansion of the Panama Canal will be a boon for American exporters once Asian demand picks up
The Panama Canal has long played a central role in global commodity trading but its recent expansion is changing the dynamic in the liquefied natural gas market, letting sizeable cargoes of cheap US gas to reach Asia-Pacific, where buyers have been paying premium prices for imported gas with little hope of diversity. The first LNG tanker, a Shell ship, transited the expanded Panama Canal in late July, carrying gas from Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass export facility on the US Gulf Coast. Although a few teething troubles marred the expanded canal's start-up-including a minor collision by one vessel with one of the side walls-the wider route is a milestone for the LNG business. It is a spot of g
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20 February 2026
The country is pushing to increase production and expand key projects despite challenges including OPEC+ discipline and the limitations of its export infrastructure
20 February 2026
Europe has transformed into a global LNG demand powerhouse over the last few years, with the fuel continuing to play a key role in safeguarding the continent’s energy security, Carsten Poppinga, chief commercial officer at Uniper, tells Petroleum Economist
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Sempra Infrastructure’s vice president for marketing and commercial development, Carlos de la Vega, outlines progress across the company’s US Gulf Coast and Mexico Pacific Coast LNG portfolio, including construction at Port Arthur LNG, continued strong performance at Cameron LNG and development of ECA LNG
19 February 2026
US LNG exporter Cheniere Energy has grown its business rapidly since exporting its first cargo a decade ago. But Chief Commercial Officer Anatol Feygin tells Petroleum Economist that, as in the past, the company’s future expansion plans are anchored by high levels of contracted offtake, supporting predictable returns on investment
