As the Northern Hemisphere nears what could be a milder winter compared to last year, Energy Information Administration (EIA) researchers expect U.S. LNG exporters to further expand their role as a balancing force in the global spot market.

In EIA’s latest winter liquefied natural gas market outlook, researchers wrote that most key natural gas markets looked well prepared for this winter. High storage levels in Asia, Europe and the United States have helped push global prices down from last year’s record highs. Researchers wrote that the slight growth in both import and export capacity over the last year could also stabilize spot markets during the coming season.

“If normal weather conditions prevail, we expect less natural gas demand for heating in Europe and limited...