Total global natural gas demand is estimated to have grown by about 2.7% per year since 2000; however, global LNG demand has risen by an estimated 7.6% per year over the same period, almost three times faster.
Global gas demand is expected to continue to grow strongly. In its most recent annual World Energy Outlook, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast a growing role for natural gas in the world’s energy mix, with the natural gas share growing from 21% in 2010 to 25% in 2035, with natural gas as the only fossil fuel whose share was growing.
LNG demand growth is, however, expected to be even stronger, particularly through 2020. After 2020, demand growth is expected to continue, albeit at a slightly slower pace as markets mature, demand shifts to more price-sensitive buyers, and some price subsidies are removed in non-OECD markets.
