Two of Asia’s leading liquefied natural gas (LNG) suppliers said sales jumped significantly last year despite a pandemic that curbed global energy consumption. 

Australian LNG exports

Woodside Petroleum Ltd., Australia’s largest natural gas producer, said its annual LNG sales increased in 2020 year/year to 81.2 million boe from 75.3 million boe. Santos Ltd., the country’s largest domestic gas supplier, reported a similar upward trend. LNG sales hit a record 4.3 million tons (Mt) last year compared with 2.3 Mt in 2019. 

Woodside and Santos also reported record annual oil and natural gas production last year, but revenue slid for both companies as commodity prices declined across the board from the economic impacts of Covid-19. But management at both companies said the outlook is...