Australian liquefied natural gas export sales may surge by 22 percent next fiscal year, thanks to the start-up of new plants to meet rising demand for the fuel in Asia, Bloomberg reported. The value of LNG exports is forecast to rise to $4.5 billion in the year ending June 30, 2007, after a forecast 56 percent jump this year. The ConocoPhillips-led Bayu-Undan LNG venture started shipping LNG to Japan from its Darwin plant this quarter, while the Woodside Petroleum Ltd.-operated North West Shelf venture is due to start LNG shipments to China in April from its expanded plant in Western Australia. Woodside, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BHP Billiton are also among companies seeking to export LNG from Australia to buyers in North America.