European natural gas prices fell on Monday as the Dutch TTF benchmark contract dropped 1.1% to 33.20 euros per megawatt-hour. Gas stocks across the European Union currently stand at about 76% of capacity, significantly lower than last year’s 91% and below the five-year average of 83%. Despite the decline, prices are supported by factors such as traders’ concerns over upcoming maintenance at Norwegian gas facilities and diminished optimism about a possible meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In Asia, liquefied natural gas (LNG) activity has increased as buyers seek to rebuild inventories after summer. Data from ANZ Research shows imports to China, Japan, and South Korea have risen based on a 30-day average, with Chinese daily consumption reaching its highest level since January. Early indications suggest some Asian countries are ramping up imports of U.S. LNG under trade agreements with President Donald Trump.

Asia’s LNG imports from the U.S. are expected to reach an eight-month high of 2.01 million metric tons in August, with projections of 3.61 million tons in October, potentially the second highest ever. The majority of this LNG is destined for North Asia, mainly Japan and South Korea. Both countries have committed to increasing energy imports from the U.S. as part of trade deals, with Japan pledging significant expansion and South Korea agreeing to purchase $100 billion worth of U.S. energy products, though the timeline is unclear. Despite these commitments, actual import volumes and values are currently much lower, and there are concerns about the feasibility of meeting these targets. Meanwhile, U.S. LNG exports are expected to rise significantly through 2030, supported by new export facilities and increased production from shale gas regions. The U.S.

is the world’s largest oil and natural gas producer, with LNG exports providing a promising growth area amid slowing oil production. Morgan Stanley forecasts substantial production increases in key shale plays, and new export projects are underway in Louisiana and Texas. Analysts expect favorable federal policies under the Trump administration to further boost LNG export capacity in the coming year. Overall, U.S. natural gas production is projected to increase from a record 103.6 billion cubic feet per day in 2023 to about 113.5 billion cubic feet per day by 2030, with much of this growth supporting rising LNG exports.