Persistent LNG price spikes, although a boon for exporters, may stunt long-term demand growth in Asia Volatility in liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets isn't going away any time soon. On April 26, the World Bank warned of years of tightness and turbulence in global gas markets. As if to emphasize the point, Russia cut off gas supplies to two European Union nations the next day, sending yet another jolt into global gas prices and signaling Moscow's willingness to wield gas exports as a weapon. For the export industry, today's high prices have been a defibrillator for LNG supply projects that had languished on life support for years. But for importers, particularly in Asia, high prices are beginning to crimp LNG demand. In the short term, sky-high prices have curbed their appetite for the fuel.