Despite the common perception that many proposed LNG export projects are behind schedule, the industry has achieved a record compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4% since 2005. Moreover, as of October 2008, nine trains with total annual capacity of 49 million metric tons (MMT) were under construction in Angola, Australia, Indoensia, Qatar, Russia and Yemen. By the end of 2011, nearly 30% more LNG capacity should be online.

The most rapidly growing exporting countries between 2003 and 2007 were Qatar (19% CAGR to 27 MMT in 2007), Australia (18% to 14 MMT) and Nigeria (17% to 15 MMT). Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, and Norway joined the list of LNG exporting nations.  

Offsetting this growth, however, were delines in exports from Indonesia, which fell on average by 6% per year between 2003 and 2007 to 20 MMT in 2007; Algeria, which fell by 3% per year to 17.4 MMT in 2007; and Brunei, which fell by 1% per year to 6.6 MMT in 2007. See chart.