The Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexander Novak noted: «In 2025 the global demand for gas increased approximately by 1%. The main growth was provided by Europe and North America where adverse weather conditions increased consumption in power industry and housing and public utilities.

There is also an increase in demand in the Middle East and Africa as gas consumption increases in the industrial and power generation sectors. Following the results of last year demand for gas in the world was 4.3 trillion CBM. Especially quickly the segment of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) grows. Since 2000 the world export of LNG grew almost by 4 times, having reached about 430 million tons in 2025. The LNG share in world trade by gas made about 45%. In the next 5–10 years the world export of LNG can grow to 600–650 million tons, almost for 50% having exceeded the level of 2025. Asia-Pacific countries, first of all China and India to which share about 40% of world gain of demand will fall will become the main driver».

In turn analysts of the Kpler Company predict that the global volume of trade of LNG in 2026 will grow not less than by 35 million tons that is for 10% year-over-year, up to 484 million tons. It will put pressure upon the prices in the spot market of LNG which will stick in a corridor of 9.5-9.9 dollars/one million BTU (297.8-310.3 dollars/thousand CBM) both in Asia and in Europe. As a result demand for gas in the Asian markets, sensitive to price level, will increase by 4–7 percent. The main volume of gain of consumption of gas will be shown by China and India. Gain of the European import of LNG will be 22 million tons.

China and Korea

The public statistical office of the People’s Republic of China reported that following the results of 2025 gas production in the country reached 261.9 billion cubic meters, it is 6.2% more than an indicator of 2024. And, above all the customs office of the People’s Republic of China noted that in December China imported 18.53 billion cubic meters of gas (+17.1% year-over-year), including on pipelines – 6.85 billion cubic meters (+12.6%), in the form of LNG – 11.68 billion cubic meters (8.48 million tons, +19.9%). In total in 2025 China imported 176.2 billion cubic meters of gas (-2.8%), including on pipelines – 81.9 billion cubic meters (+8%), in the form of LNG – 94.3 billion cubic meters (68.43 million tons,-10.6%).

The Chinese electricity generation company Huadian announced that the second phase of the Huadian Wanting gas power plant, located in Suzhou, has been put into commercial operation in China. The power plant is equipped with two F-class gas turbine engines with a declared capacity of 494 MW each. The engines use a hydrogen cooling system. The engines were developed by the Chinese generating company Huadian and the Shanghai Electric Power Company.
It is the first gas turbine of high power which is completely developed by the Chinese companies. So far in mass production there were only 50 and 110 MW engines of own development. Import substitution and localization of key technologies and equipment production are an important part of the «Plan for Scientific and Technical Innovations in the Energy Sector during the 14th Five-Year Plan» (2021-2025), which, among other things, aims to achieve a «breakthrough» in the development and testing of gas turbines and gas turbine generators, as well as their mass production.

Against the background of cold weather in China the daily record of supply of gas on GTS – 1.067 billion cubic meters was set on January 20. It is noted that the preparation for peak demand which is carried out in advance allowed creating a gas reserve in pipelines at the level of over 3.6 billion cubic meters, 19 reception LNG terminals can give about 300 million cubic meters/days to network and 200 million cubic meters/days can be lifted from 17 UGS. In the same day the peak loading of power networks reached record 1,417 GW.

South Korea, which in December imported 4.967 million tons of LNG, also increases consumption of gas; it is 16% more year-over-year. The volume of import of LNG from Russia increased the eighth month in a row and in December amounted to 260.8 thousand tons, +37.1% year-over-year. Following the results of 2025 South Korea imported 46.718 million tons of LNG, +0.9% year-over-year. Import of LNG from the USA in December grew by 11% year-over-year, up to 415 thousand tons, but following the results of a year decreased by 22.1%, having made 4.393 million tons. Australia (14.677 million tons, +28.7%) became the leading supplier of LNG to South Korea in 2025. Import from Qatar which was long time the leader in supply of LNG to the country dropped by 21.5%, up to 6.968 million tons.

Vietnam

At the end of last year in the province Dongnay in the southeast of Vietnam the Petrovyetnam Company put into commercial operation the third and fourth blocks of power plant Nyonchat with a general power of 1.62 GW. It is the country’s first power plant using the imported LNG. Investments into the project made 1.4 billion dollars. It is stated that besides natural gas the station is capable to use also hydrogen. Now 12 objects of gas generation with a general power of 8.25 GW are under management of Petrovyetnam that makes about 9.3% of the general rated capacity of generation of Vietnam. The national development plan for power industry assumes that by 2030 the power of the power plants, using the imported LNG, will be 22.5 GW.

The government of Vietnam reported about approval of the updated list of energy projects of a strategic importance, including in the sphere of generation of the electric power, oil, natural gas and RES. The updated document Block B and the Blue Whale and also a number of the integrated projects on import of LNG and generation of the electric power confirmed a strategic importance of perspective projects on development of gas fields. The new version of the list included also designed terminals Haiphong and Kongtkhan LNG, the cumulative capacity of all perspective projects on import of LNG included in the list is 16.7 million tons of LNG per year. The authorities of Vietnam expect that in the next 5 years demand for the electric power will annually grow for 7–8% that will demand commissioning of new capacities of gas generation. It is expected that by 2035 the volume of rated capacities of gas generation can grow from current 7 to 40 GW, and demand for gas – from 7 to 34 billion cubic meters per year. One of the priority directions is implementation of the so-called integrated projects on import of LNG and gas generation of the electric power. Now a possibility of realization of dozens of such projects is studied, but most of them are at an early stage of planning. In early 2025, in order to encourage faster implementation of such projects, the Vietnamese government adopted a new version of the Electricity Law and introduced a preferential tariff for electricity generated by LNG-powered gas-fired power plants. By 2035, the total capacity of existing and expected LNG import facilities in Vietnam may exceed 20 million tons of LNG per year. The authorities also lay hopes for commissioning of fields Block B (stocks of 110 billion cubic meters, the investment decision is made, the beginning of production is planned for 2026) and the Blue Whale (stocks about 150 billion cubic meters).

Australia, India, Philippines and Nigeria

The government of Australia since 2027 will demand from the companies to reserve 15–25% of the extracted gas for possible deliveries to domestic market. The regulation will only apply to contracts signed after December 22, 2025. Such measures are necessary in connection with the expected deficiency of gas on east coast of the country: according to the forecast of the operator of the Australian energy market, since 2028 demand for gas will exceed the offer. To prevent the expected gas shortage, a decision has been made to install regasification terminals in Victoria, reverse supplies from north to south are being tested using existing pipelines, and a tender for gas exploration has been announced for the first time in seven years.

Within implementation of the Indian state program on creation of national gas transmission network the extent of gas pipelines in the country exceeded 25 thousand km for the end of December, 2025 and in the next years will increase by 10,459 km. To make gas more available, the government of India introduced the system of a single tariff for transportation of gas through 90% of pipelines in the country. Thanks to these measures, 10.35 million households are supplied with natural gas as of the end of December 2025.

Following the results of 2025 the volume of import of LNG to Philippines was 1.94 million tons (2.7 billion cubic meters). It is 44% more than the volumes of 2024. Natural gas plays an important role in the energy sector of Philippines – 21% of all electric power in the country is produced at gas power plants. Until 2025, the local market relied on gas production from the Malampaya gas field, but its reserves are gradually depleting. The country operates two LNG import terminals with a combined capacity of 8.9 million tons per year. Both terminals are located in Batangas and temporarily use floating LNG storage and regasification facilities.

At the end of last year the Ajokuta-Kano pipeline was completed in Nigeria, bringing natural gas to the northern part of the country. The cost of the gas pipeline was 2.8 billion dollars. The project began in 2008. Natural gas is expected to help develop the industry and industrialization of northern Nigeria, including its use in fertilizer production plants. It will also help increase electricity generation.