Latin American liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand has had a record year in 2021 and it is not letting up, tightening a global gas market that has sent prices spiking around the world.

Imports of LNG into Latin America for the first eight months of the year added up to 10.44 million tons, according to market research firm Kpler. Imports were 120% higher than in the comparable period last year, and up 36% compared with the January-August period in 2019.

LNG imports into Latin America to date in September, at 1.02 million tons, are already double the entire month of September 2020, according to Kpler.

Brazil, which is heavily dependent on hydroelectric power for its electricity, is facing a record drought and is leaning on LNG to keep the lights on. To date in September,...