U.S. overtakes Middle East as LNG supplier to Korea amid Iran war fallout

Korea has imported more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States than from the Middle East so far this year, as fallout from the Iran war severely disrupted supplies from the once-key region.

It is the first time North America has ever overtaken the Middle East in supplying gas to Korea.

Imports from the Middle East, which had been supplying nearly a third of Korea’s LNG as of 2024, plunged 66 percent to 2.42 million tons from 7.09 million tons this year through September, accounting for merely 7 percent, according to data from the Korea International Trade Association.

Imports from North America, meanwhile, more than doubled to 7.82 million tons from 3.85 million tons, lifting the region’s share to nearly a quarter. Korea’s total LNG imports fell 6.4 percent to 32.87 million tons from January through September.

This story was originally published by Hellenic Shipping News. Read the full story at Hellenic Shipping News →