Liquefied　petroleum　gas　(LPG),　as　a　clean　and　low-carbon　energy　source,　is　playing　an　increasingly　vital　role　in　global　energy　consumption.　LPG　trade　is　conducted　through　maritime　transportation　between　ports.　The　intricate　transport　relationships　involved　form　a　complex　trading　network,　and　a　clear,　long-term　understanding　of　this　network　will　clarify　global　LPG　trade　patterns　and　their　evolution　at　the　port　scale.　This　study　adopted　a　set　of　complex　network　indices　and　a　community　detection　method　to　analyze　global　LPG　trade　patterns　and　their　evolution　from　the　perspective　of　the　trading　community　on　the　port　scale　using　mass　vessel　trajectory　data　collected　during　2013–2017.　The　results　derived　were　as　follows.　1)　LPG　transportation　network　is　characterized　by　multiple　transshipments,　while　the　number　of　LPG　transshipments　shows　a　trend　of　decrease.　2)　The　LPG　trade　network　has　formed　a　series　of　closely　connected　communities　around　hub　ports,　and　the　hub　ports　of　different　communities　have　also　gradually　become　more　closely　interconnected.　3)　Trade　links　between　the　various　communities　have　gradually　strengthened　over　time,　and　LPG　trade　shows　an　evolutionary　trend　from　regional　agglomeration　to　globalization.　©　2019　Elsevier　Ltd