Global Marine LNG Terminals, Tankers & Trade (LNG-T3): A High-Resolution AIS-Based Dataset of LNG Trade Dynamics (2020-2024)

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_tanker_voyage.csv - Individual LNG tanker export/return voyage events (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 AIS_feed.zip - code for obtaining real-time AIS data with AIShub (your API key is required) code.zip - code for generating visualizations and validations Table 2. 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_cbm ** LNG carrying capacity in cubic meters (m³) registered_country The country where the tanker is registered is_capacity_estimated ** Flag indicating if capacity is estimated (1 = Yes) is_active_tanker Flag indicating if the tanker has AIS or port call record during the study period total_LNG * Total LNG volume transported by the vessel (m³) 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 Tanker Voyages start_date, end_date Voyage date of departure and arrival IMO International Maritime Organization number voyage Voyage type, export or return from_terminal, to_terminal LNG terminal of departure and arrival amount_cmb Delivered LNG cargo volume (m³) from_country, to_country Country of departure and arrival confidence_score Confidence level of detected voyage (1–5, with 5 being highest) voyage_distance Estimated voyage distance from origin to destination (in kilometers) 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 Terminals name LNG terminal name date Date of the activity processed_cbm Total LNG volume processed at the (m³) 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_cbm Traded LNG cargo volume (m³) 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. ** The fields capacity_cbm and is_capacity_estimated are derived from a DWT-to-capacity regression model (r2 = 0.75, see Methods). The model was applied exclusively in cases where official capacity data were not available, and the flag is_capacity_estimated will be set 1.