How Woodside shares are building a 'unique position' to supply global LNG markets

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are marching higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock closed on Friday trading for $31.83. In morning trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for $32.13 apiece, up 0.9%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.1% at this same time.

This sees Woodside shares up 35.8% in 2026, smashing the 3.2% year-to-date gains posted by the benchmark index.

That's the recent share price action for you.

Now here's how the Aussie energy giant is building a global LNG portfolio.

Woodside shares expanding global LNG footprint

Woodside's major growth projects include the Trion oil field, located offshore Mexico, which was 64% complete at the end of H1 2026.

On the liquid natural gas (LNG) front, Woodside shares could get long-term support on two fronts.

First, its Scarborough Energy Project, a natural gas resource project located in Western Australia. At the end of H1 2026, Scarborough was 98% complete and on track for first LNG cargo in Q4 2026.

Then there's the mammoth Louisiana LNG project in the United States, which was 28% complete at the end of H1 2026.

The approximately AU$24 billion project got the green light from former CEO Meg O'Neill in April 2025.

On completion, Louisiana LNG has a total permitted capacity of 27.6 million tonnes per annum.

The company stated:

Development of Louisiana LNG will position Woodside as a global LNG powerhouse, enabling the company to deliver approximately 24 Mtpa from its global LNG portfolio in the 2030s, and operating over 5% of global LNG supply.

And MST Marquee analyst Saul Kavonic noted that the United States, and Louisiana in particular, provide regulatory certainty that Woodside and other energy companies aren't getting from Australia.

According to Kavonic (quoted by The Australian Financial Review):

The fact that even Woodside is looking to spend most of its next wave of investment in the US instead of Australia is a stark signal that Australia is losing its competitiveness to attract investment in our world-scale gas resource base.

Commenting on the company's LNG ambitions intended to boost Woodside shares over the years, Liz Westcott, who took over the reins as Woodside CEO in March this year, said, "We'll have LNG facilities in the Atlantic and the Pacific. That is really quite a unique position for an operator to be in."

Woodside owns 90% of Louisiana LNG, with United States-based Williams holding the rest.

The post How Woodside shares are building a 'unique position' to supply global LNG markets appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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