據天然氣加工新聞網2022年7月25日報道，根據國際天然氣咨詢中心CEDIGAZ發布的數據，美國在今年上半年成為世界上最大的液化天然氣（LNG）出口國。與去年下半年相比，今年上半年美國LNG出口量增長12%，日均112億立方英尺。美國LNG出口持續增長有3個原因：LNG出口能力增加，國際天然氣和LNG價格上漲，以及全球LNG需求增加，尤其是歐洲的LNG需求增加。  

根據美國能源信息署（EIA）的估計，自去年11月以來，美國LNG出口量平均日增19億立方英尺（峰值為21億立方英尺）。 新增的產能包括薩賓帕斯LNG項目的第六條液化生產線、卡爾克蘇LNG項目的18條中等規模液化生產線，以及薩賓帕斯和科珀斯克里斯蒂LNG設施的LNG產能的增加。截至今年7月，EIA估計美國LNG液化能力日均114億立方英尺，短期峰值為139億立方英尺。  

國際天然氣和LNG價格在去年第四季度和今年上半年創下歷史新高。自去年10月以來，荷蘭天然氣所有權轉讓設施（TTF）的天然氣價格一直處于創紀錄高位。今年上半年，TTF平均價格為30.94美元/百萬英熱單位。亞洲LNG現貨價格也一直居高不下，同期平均價格為29.50美元/百萬英熱單位。 

自去年年底以來，歐洲國家越來越多地進口LNG，以彌補其產能大國管道天然氣進口的減少，并填補歷史上處于低位的天然氣庫存。今年上半年，歐盟和英國的LNG進口量增加63%，日均148億立方英尺。  

今年前5個月，大部分美國LNG出口到歐盟和英國，占美國LNG出口總量的71%，即82億立方英尺/天。與去年類似，今年上半年，美國向歐盟和英國輸送的LNG最多，占歐洲LNG日總進口量148億立方英尺的47%，其次是卡塔爾，占15%，產能大國占14%，4個非洲國家加起來占17%。

今年6月，美國LNG出口量比今年前5個月的平均出口量（114億立方英尺/天）減少11%，主要原因是自由港LNG出口設施意外停產。后者預計將在10月初恢復部分液化業務。

今年上半年，美國7個LNG出口設施的峰值產能利用率平均為87%，這與去年的平均利用率相似。 

李峻 編譯自 天然氣加工新聞網

原文如下：

The United States became the world’s largest LNG exporter in the first half of 2022

The United States became the world’s largest LNG exporter during the first half of 2022, according to data from CEDIGAZ. Compared with the second half of 2021, U.S. LNG exports increased by 12% in the first half of 2022, averaging 11.2 Bcf/d. U.S. LNG exports continued to grow for three reasons—increased LNG export capacity, increased international natural gas and LNG prices, and increased global demand, particularly in Europe.

According to our estimates, installed U.S. LNG export capacity has expanded by 1.9 Bcf/d nominal (2.1 Bcf/d peak) since November 2021. The capacity additions included a sixth train at the Sabine Pass LNG, 18 new mid-scale liquefaction trains at the Calcasieu Pass LNG, and increased LNG production capacity at Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi LNG facilities. As of July 2022, we estimate that U.S. LNG liquefaction capacity averaged 11.4 Bcf/d, with a shorter-term peak capacity of 13.9 Bcf/d.

International natural gas and LNG prices hit record highs in the last quarter of 2021 and first half of 2022. Prices at the Title Transfer Facility (TTF) in the Netherlands have been trading at record highs since October 2021. TTF averaged $30.94 per MMbtu during the first half of 2022. LNG spot prices in Asia have also been high, averaging $29.50/MMbtu during the same period.

Since the end of last year, countries in Europe have increasingly imported more LNG to compensate for lower pipeline imports from the larger producer and to fill historically low natural gas storage inventories. LNG imports in the EU and UK increased by 63% during the first half of 2022 to average 14.8 Bcf/d.

Most U.S. LNG exports went to the EU and the UK during the first five months of this year, accounting for 71%, or 8.2 Bcf/d, of the total U.S. LNG exports. Similar to 2021, the United States sent the most LNG to the EU and UK during the first half of the year, providing 47% of the 14.8 Bcf/d of Europe's total LNG imports, followed by Qatar at 15%, and the larger producer at 14%, and four African countries combined at 17%.

In June, the United States exported 11% less LNG than the 11.4 Bcf/d average exports during the first five months of 2022, mainly as a result of an unplanned outage at the Freeport LNG export facility. Freeport LNG is expected to resume partial liquefaction operations in early October 2022.

Utilization of the peak capacity at the seven U.S. LNG export facilities averaged 87% during the first half of 2022, mainly before the Freeport LNG outage, which is similar to the utilization on average during 2021.