AI and Asia Drive 2030 LNG Shortage Forecast
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Feb 02, 2026 · Last updated Feb 03, 2026
The market is expected to shift from a projected LNG supply glut to a shortage by 2030, driven by surging electricity demand from AI and data centers, as well as rising fuel use in Asia and European gas needs. This bullish long-term outlook for LNG suggests increased investment and potentially higher prices for energy companies like QatarEnergy, Shell plc, ConocoPhillips, and ExxonMobil.
QatarEnergy CEO Saad Sherida al-Kaabi has revised the long-term outlook for the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, predicting a shortage by 2030 instead of an earlier anticipated oversupply. This shift is primarily attributed to growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers, which require sustained baseload power. Additionally, rising fuel consumption in Asia, particularly in China and India for trucking and marine transport, and Europe's continued need for gas following the cessation of Russian imports, are significant drivers. While new LNG supply projects like ExxonMobil===Golden Pass LNG and North Field Expansion are coming online between 2026 and 2029, energy executives from Shell plc, ConocoPhillips, and ExxonMobil generally agree on a bullish long-term demand trajectory, with some expecting prices to soften initially before tightening due to project delays or increased demand.
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