DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17273526
title: Global Marine LNG Terminals, Tankers & Trade (LNG-T3): A High-Resolution AIS-Based Dataset of LNG Trade Dynamics (2020-2024)

description: The LNG-T3 dataset provides the first open-access, daily-resolution dataset of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) maritime trade flows between 2020 and 2024. It integrates three core components: (1) a global LNG tanker fleet inventory (406 vessels), (2) a harmonized LNG terminal inventory (545 terminals), and (3) AIS-derived daily records of LNG tanker voyages, terminal throughput, and country-to-country trade flows.

The dataset is constructed from Automatic Identification System (AIS) vessel position and draught reports, port call records, and open infrastructure sources. A robust voyage detection framework identifies loading and unloading events at LNG terminals and reconstructs tanker voyages, enabling the estimation of daily LNG volumes transported, processed, and traded globally.

Validation against multiple independent references—including Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), U.S. EIA, Eurostat, and GIIGNL—demonstrates high consistency at the terminal, country, and regional scales. LNG-T3 captures the dramatic shifts in LNG trade following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, including Europe’s surge in LNG imports, the expansion of U.S. exports, continued Russian LNG shipments despite pipeline sanctions, and the diversification of Europe’s suppliers to include smaller exporters such as Cameroon, Turkmenistan, and Peru.

Files included:

LNG_tanker.csv – global LNG tanker fleet inventory (2020–2024)

LNG_terminal.csv – LNG export/import terminal inventory

LNG_terminal_daily.csv – daily LNG terminal-level throughput

LNG_trade_daily.csv – daily country-to-country LNG trade flows

GIIGNL_annual.csv – annual validation dataset from GIIGNL reports

 

 Table. Key Attributes of LNG Tankers, Terminals, and Trade Records in the LNG-T3 Dataset.






Dataset



Attribute



Description





Tankers



IMO



International Maritime Organization number





MMSI



Maritime Mobile Service Identity number





ship_name



Name of the LNG tanker





built_year



The year the vessel was built





tanker_class



Classification of tankers by size/type (e.g., Q-Flex, Q-Max, Conventional)





capacity_cmb



LNG carrying capacity in cubic meters (cbm)





registered_country



The country where the tanker is registered





is_capacity_estimated



Flag indicating if capacity is estimated (1 = Yes)





total_LNG *



Total LNG volume transported by the vessel (cbm)





delivery_counts



The number of LNG deliveries made by the tanker





total_distance *



Total vessel travel distance (in kilometers)





first_delivery_record



Date of the earliest recorded LNG delivery





last_delivery_record



Date of the most recent recorded LNG delivery





Terminals



name



Name of the LNG terminal





UN_LOCODE



UN/LOCODE code of the nearest port to the terminal





port_distance_km



The distance between the terminal and the port





status



Operational status (e.g., proposed, idle, operating)





unit_count



Number of processing units/trains at the terminal





capacity_mtpa



LNG processing capacity in million tonnes per annum (MTPA)





terminal_type



Import or export classification





start_year



Planned or actual start year of terminal operations





region



Geographical region where the terminal is located





areas



Country or locality of the terminal





lat, lon



Geocoordinate of the terminal





total_processed_cbm *



Total LNG volume processed at the (cbm)





first_record



Earliest record of terminal activity





last_record



Most recent record of terminal activity





Terminal daily



name



LNG terminal name





date



Date of the activity





processed_cbm



Total LNG volume processed at the (cbm)





Trade



date



Date of LNG trade activity





type



Type of activity (e.g., arrival or departure)





from_country



Country of departure





to_country



Country of arrival





amount_cmb



Traded LNG cargo volume (cbm)





voyage_distance



Estimated voyage distance from origin to destination (in kilometers)





confidence_score



Confidence level of the estimated trade event (1–5, with 5 being highest)

 

 

 






* “Total” values in the LNG-T3 dataset (e.g., total_LNG, delivery_counts, total_distance, total_processed_cbm) represent aggregated values over the period from 2020-01 to 2024-12, based on available and validated data records.