MOSCOW, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Global trade in liquified natural gas (LNG) increased 2 percent year on year in the first three quarters of 2023, Russian gas giant Gazprom said on Tuesday.

       Global LNG trade increased by 4 percent in 2022 in comparison to 2021, but the growth slowed down to only 2 percent in the first three quarters of 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, Gazprom said in a statement.

       In the future, a significant increase in LNG production is expected in the United States, Qatar and Russia, while a decrease is predicted in Australia, said the statement.

       It added that Russia may become one of the three largest LNG producers in the world.

       Russia's share in the global LNG market is expected to rise to 20 percent by 2030 from 8 percent in 2023, TASS reported, citing a previous statement made by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.