ADNOC launches global LNG marketing and trading platform

ADNOC has advanced its global LNG expansion ambitions with the launch of a global LNG marketing and trading platform in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)

It brings the marketing activities of ADNOC Gas and XRG with the trading capabilities of ADNOC Trading into an integrated commercial platform.

Designed to enhance flexibility and shipping optionality, the move supports ADNOC Gas’ expanding LNG portfolio, including Ruwais LNG, and XRG’s international gas and infrastructure growth, while strengthening customer access globally.

Targeting 47 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of combined marketable LNG by 2035, the platform will scale up ADNOC and XRG’s capacity to optimise a growing and diverse LNG portfolio and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a global energy trading centre.

The platform is supported by ADNOC’s shipping capabilities. ADNOC Trading’s LNG shipping desk ranked among the top global LNG charterers in both physical and freight derivatives in 2025. ADNOC L&S has expanded its owned LNG fleet to 20 vessels, including 14 modern dual-fuel carriers, supporting growing UAE LNG production and global trade.

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, ADNOC managing director and Group CEO, and XRG Executive chairman, said, “With LNG demand set to grow substantially, the world will need reliable, responsible and trusted suppliers at scale. This world-class, integrated commercial LNG platform brings together the full strength of ADNOC’s marketing, trading and shipping capabilities to create a single global hub in Abu Dhabi. It marks a step-change in scale, flexibility and optionality of our LNG marketing and trading platform and will further position ADNOC to meet the world’s growing demand for energy.”

The initiative comes as ADNOC’s Ruwais LNG project, under development in AI Ruwais Industrial city, is scheduled to start commercial operations in 2028. Comprising two 4.8 mtpa liquefaction trains with a combined capacity of 9.6 mtpa, it will more than double ADNOC Gas’ existing operated LNG production capacity to around 15 mtpa. To date, 90% of the Ruwais LNG project’s 9.6 mtpa production capacity has been committed to international buyers across Asia and Europe through long-term arrangements.

Another such arrangement followed not long after the launch of the new marketing and trading platform, with the signing of a 15-year Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with INPEX CORPORATION (INPEX), Japan’s largest E&P company, for the supply of 1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG from the Ruwais LNG project.

The agreement was announced during a visit to Japan, one of ADNOC’s most important markets, by His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, and Executive Chairman of XRG

Nasser Al Muhairi, acting CEO of ADNOC Downstream Industry, Marketing & Trading, and chairman of Ruwais LNG, said, “This SPA with INPEX marks the first long-term LNG agreement announced following the launch of ADNOC and XRG’s integrated global LNG marketing and trading platform, demonstrating how we are bringing more LNG molecules, greater market access and enhanced commercial flexibility to our customers. It builds on ADNOC’s decades-long energy partnership with Japan, advances the commercialization of Ruwais LNG and reinforces strong market confidence in the project. As ADNOC and XRG target 47 mtpa of combined marketable LNG by 2035, Ruwais LNG will be a key source of reliable, flexible and lower-carbon supply for customers in Asia and around the world.”

Also signed during Dr. Sultan Al Jaber's visit to Japan, was a strategic collaboration agreement with Mitsui, which envisages collaboration across multiple strategic areas, including crude oil market development and long-term supply, LNG sales and optimisation, sulfur procurement and logistics, and shipping solutions for LNG, ammonia, sulfur and other commodities.