A buyer’s LNG market
Demand may be set to surge, but Asia’s largest gas importers remain firmly in control
Asia's liquefied natural gas suppliers are becoming increasingly willing to provide more flexible terms to buyers to maintain a foothold in a market in which supply will outstrip demand until at least the middle of the next decade. Global LNG demand is forecast to rise by more than 30%, to 353.43m tonnes a year between 2016 and 2020, according to Wood Mackenzie, a consultancy. Meanwhile, demand in the Asia-Pacific region alone is forecast to rise by 27% in the same period, reaching 243.25m t/y. This represents almost half of total global demand growth. Energy-hungry markets in China, India and Pakistan will drive the increases. But global LNG liquefaction capacity is likely to grow even fast
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
9 December 2025
The group’s oil production declined in November, our latest analysis finds, amid divided sentiment over market balances and geopolitical jitters
