Global natural gas demand hit an all-time high in 2025, rising 1.7% year-on-year or 69 billion cubic meters to reach 4.202 trillion cubic meters, according to the Global Gas Report 2026 prepared by the International Gas Union (IGU) and Snam. The report revealed that global natural gas supply and liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade also reached record levels during the year. Global natural gas supply increased by 52 billion cubic meters from the previous year to a record 4.147 trillion cubic meters.
On the supply side, North America led production growth with an increase of 54 billion cubic meters, followed by the Middle East with 11 billion cubic meters, Asia with 6 billion cubic meters, and South America with 2 billion cubic meters. Demand growth was geographically distributed across multiple regions. Asia recorded the largest increase at 25 billion cubic meters, followed by the Middle East with 18 billion cubic meters and Europe with approximately 10 billion cubic meters.
Africa saw demand rise by 6 billion cubic meters, North America by 5 billion cubic meters, South America by 4 billion cubic meters, and Russia by 3 billion cubic meters. Oceania was the only region to post a decline in demand. Residential and commercial consumption recorded the largest absolute increase among end-use sectors, rising by 32 billion cubic meters.
This growth was driven particularly by cold winter conditions in North America. Asia led global natural gas demand growth in 2025, with demand increasing by 25 billion cubic meters. Higher consumption in power generation and the residential and commercial sectors accounted for around 64% of the region's total natural gas demand growth, with much of the increase concentrated in East and Southeast Asia.
European natural gas demand rose by approximately 10 billion cubic meters, or 2.3%, with colder weather early in the year and lower wind power generation during the winter season boosting gas use in the power sector. North American natural gas demand increased by 5 billion cubic meters, or 0.4%. Residential and commercial consumption rose by 21 billion cubic meters, while gas demand for power generation declined by 18 billion cubic meters.
The Middle East saw natural gas consumption increase by 18 billion cubic meters, or 2.9%, in 2025, driven particularly by higher demand in the industrial and power sectors. Industrial natural gas demand rose by 15 billion cubic meters, or 9.5%, while demand in the power sector increased by 11 billion cubic meters, or 4.2%. Türkiye's natural gas demand increased by 4 billion cubic meters year-on-year in 2025.
Global LNG trade climbed by 43 billion cubic meters year-on-year to reach an all-time high of 580 billion cubic meters in 2025. The report highlighted LNG's growing role in the global energy system as countries increasingly focus on energy security. China remained the world's largest LNG importer despite its imports declining by 10 billion cubic meters from 2024.
Japan followed as the second-largest importer with 91 billion cubic meters and South Korea with 67 billion cubic meters. Europe's LNG imports increased by 32 billion cubic meters in 2025, reflecting the region's structural shift away from Russian pipeline gas and its growing reliance on LNG. More than half of Europe's LNG imports originated from the United States.
Looking ahead, global natural gas demand is forecast to edge lower in 2026 after reaching a record high in 2025, with demand expected to decline by 7 billion cubic meters. The report noted that the Strait of Hormuz crisis reduced natural gas demand in price-sensitive markets, particularly in emerging Asia and Africa, during the first half of 2026. Türkiye was also highlighted in the report for its use of digital technologies in natural gas infrastructure.
TANAP was cited as a recent example of digital twin technology in the gas industry. This technology is used to assess pipeline operations and integrity under different operating scenarios, supporting timely and data-driven risk management. Source: Anadolu Agency, Global Gas Report 2026 (prepared by the International Gas Union and Snam)
Source: aa.com.tr