Outlook for the LNG EPC sector  

The LNG EPC sector's capacity is set to peak in 2015 when the waves of LNG construction climax in Australia and North America. New entrants have also entered the sector, historically dominated by only five incumbent contractors. But the construction boom will soon come to an end – we forecast a drop in LNG construction beginning outside North America in 2015, and extending to within North America from 2019. Ample spare EPC capacity and a greater number of contractors will be competing in a drastically diminished market. This will lead to significant competitive pressure on contractors to accept reduced margins and more onerous terms, and downsize their LNG teams. Contractors' bottom lines will be increasingly affected, with some contractors better placed than others to weather to storm.