June 12, 2026 report, Shell has temporarily paused its $3 billion share buyback programme until July 14 due to securities-law requirements connected to its pending $16.4 billion acquisition of ARC Resources. The pause is linked to ARC Resources’ shareholder approval process and does not indicate that Shell is moving away from shareholder returns. Any shares not bought during this period are expected to be shifted into Shell’s remaining 2026 buyback plans, subject to board approval.
This development is important for the floating LNG market because ARC Resources strengthens Shell’s access to natural gas resources in Canada’s Montney basin. Shell’s official announcement says ARC’s gas reserves could support Shell’s LNG growth in Canada, while ARC’s assets are located near Shell’s existing Canadian fields that supply the LNG Canada plant, where Shell holds a 40% stake.
Impacting Floating LNG Industry
For the floating LNG market, the deal reinforces a broader trend: major energy companies are securing long-term gas supply to support LNG infrastructure and export growth. DataM Intelligence’s Floating LNG Market report states that the global floating LNG market was valued at USD 23.33 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 61.62 billion by 2035, growing at a 10.2% CAGR during 2026–2035. The report also identifies North America as the largest market and Asia-Pacific as the fastest-growing region.
Shell’s acquisition can positively influence the floating LNG market by improving investor confidence in LNG-linked gas assets, especially in North America. Stronger upstream gas supply can support future LNG export capacity, floating liquefaction opportunities, and flexible LNG infrastructure development. It also highlights the strategic value of gas-rich regions that can feed LNG projects and serve Asian buyers more efficiently.
However, the short-term impact may be neutral to slightly cautious because Shell is pausing a major buyback while waiting for shareholder approval. Still, from a market perspective, the transaction shows that global energy majors continue to view natural gas and LNG as long-term growth areas, which supports demand for floating LNG solutions, offshore gas monetization, and faster LNG infrastructure deployment.
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