IGU (International Gas Union) Reports

About IGU

The International Gas Union (IGU) was founded in 1931. It is a worldwide non-profit organisation registered in Vevey, Switzerland with the Secretariat located in London. The mission of IGU is to advocate gas as an integral part of a sustainable global energy system, and to promote the political, technical and economic progress of the gas industry. The more than 150 members of IGU are associations and corporations of the gas industry representing over 95% of the global gas market. The working organisation of IGU covers the complete value of gas chain from exploration and production, transmission via pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as well as distribution and combustion of gas at the point of use.

2023 World LNG Report

This is the 14th annual edition of the World LNG Report, the world’s most comprehensive public source of information on key developments and trends in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). ... (more about ...)

LNG Trade - Global LNG trade grew by 6.8% between 2021 and 2022 to about 401.5 million tonnes (MT).

Price Trends - The LNG market experienced a tumultuous year in 2022. The emergence of market tightness in late-2021 continued and accelerated through 2022 following the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict at end-February. 

Liquefaction Plants - In 2022, a total 19.9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of liquefaction capacity was brought online to reach a global total of 478.4 MTPA, across 22 markets. New liquefaction capacity in the US market accounted for 75% of the capacity increase in 2022. Sabine Pass LNG T6 (5.0 MTPA) and Calcasieu Pass LNG T1-T18 (10 MTPA) in the US became operational in February and May 2022 respectively, giving the US the largest operational liquefaction capacity worldwide in 2022 with total of 88.1 MTPA. 

Proposed New Liquefaction Plants - Currently, 997.1 MTPA of aspirational liquefaction capacity is in the pre-FID stage. Most proposed capacity is in North America (611.4 MTPA), with 333 MTPA situated in the US, 229.6 MTPA in Canada, and 48.8 MTPA in Mexico. This is followed by Africa (101.9 MTPA), Russia (137 MTPA), Asia Pacific (68.9 MTPA) and the Middle East (71.5 MTPA). About 6.4 MTPA of liquefaction capacity is proposed in the rest of the world.

Regasification Terminals - Global regasification capacity reached 970.6 MTPA across 48 markets as of end-April 2023. In 2022, the highest capacity additions were in Europe, which saw an additional 14.5 MTPA of regasification, followed by Asia Pacific with 8.5 MTPA of new regasification, Asia with 6 MTPA and Latin America with 2.2 MTPA. 

Floating and Offshore Regasification - As of end-April 2023, there are 44 floating and offshore terminals around the world with a total import capacity of 177.2 MTPA, accounting for around 18% of global regasification capacity.

LNG Shipping - There were 668 active vessels as of end-April 2023, including 45 FSRUs and eight floating storage units (FSUs). The global fleet grew by 4% with the delivery of 27 carriers in 2022. Most vessels delivered last year were in the 170,000 to 180,000 cubic metres (cm) size range.

LNG Bunkering Vessels and Terminals - In 2022, global LNG bunkering activity declined as oil-based fuels traded at significant discounts to global LNG prices. Any dual-fuel vessels that could switch to fuel oil did so. However, as of early 2023, LNG prices have once again become competitive with fuel oil, while the longer-term fundamentals of a rapidly expanding LNG-fueled orderbook and accelerating decarbonisation measures remain robust. 

2022 Wholesale Price Report

While the volume of Gas on Gas (GOG) competition was some 100 bcm higher in 2021, than in 20201, its share was marginally down at 49% of world gas consumption. The biggest contributors to this change were Turkey, Spain, and China. There was a sharp rise in Oil Price Escalation linked (OPE) pipe imports into Turkey and Spain, driven by increase in Turkey’s gas demand, and a reduction of spot LNG imports into Spain, as well as higher volumes of OPE pipeline gas into China.. ... (more about ...)

World LNG Report 2022

LNG Trade.–  Global LNG trade grew by 4.5% from 2020 to 2021, reaching an all-time high of 372.3 MT. A strong post-pandemic recovery resulted in a surge in LNG imports, even though the annual growth rate of 4.5% remains far from pre-COVID-19 levels of 13.0% in 2019.

Price Trends.- Global LNG markets had an eventful year in 2021, with the market transitioning away from the conditions where supply exceeded COVID-19 lockdown demand and into a period of rapidly tightening market conditions, with resurgent demand rate exceeding supply additions. As a result, 2021 saw an almost complete reversal of many of the pricing trends seen over 2019-2020, with spot LNG prices surging to historic highs and staying above the long-term contract formulas that use either Brent or Henry Hub as their basis.

LNG Liquefaction Plants.– About 6.9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of liquefaction capacity was brought online in 2021, increasing global liquefaction capacity to 459.9 MTPA1 at the end of the year. The average global utilisation rate in 2021 was 80.4%, compared to 74.6% in 2020. In the first four months of 2022, an additional 12.5 MTPA of liquefaction capacity was brought online, bringing the total global liquefaction capacity to 472.4 MTPA as of April 2022.

LNG Shpping.- With the delivery of 57 vessels1 in 2021 and seven in the first four months of 2022, the global LNG carrier fleet consisted of 641 active vessels1 as of end-of-April 2022, including 45 floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) and five floating storage units (FSUs). This represents a 10% growth in the fleet size from 2020 to 2021, comparable to a 12% growth in the number of LNG voyages as trade recovered from COVID-19-induced demand reductions.

LNG  Recieving Terminals .- s of April 2022, global regasification capacity was 901.9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) across 40 markets. 49.8 MTPA of regasification capacity was added in 2021 with the commissioning of five new import terminals and the completion of five expansion projects at existing terminals, with the greatest addition of 11 MTPA at the Al Zour LNG import facility in Kuwait.

LNG Bunkering Vessels and Terminals.- With the implementation of stricter environmental legislation to reduce emissions at both the local and international levels, a growing number of marine vessel owners are considering the use of cleaner alternative bunker fuels to achieve compliance. With effect from January 2020, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) enforced a new global limit of 0.5% on the sulphur content of ships’ fuel oil. The imposition of a stricter sulphur content cap on marine bunker fuel has spurred the switch to LNG-fuelled vessels through the installation of new systems or conversion where possible, alongside the construction of related bunkering infrastructure. ... (more about ...)

2022 Global Gas Report

The global gas market was highly volatile over the 2020-21 period, with fluctuating gas prices, and periods of both oversupply and market tightness observed over the course of these two years. Gas demand dropped by 2% in 2020, reflecting lower economic activity levels with the spread of Covid-19 and lockdowns. Demand levels recovered in 2021 by 4% year-on-year, with a rebound in the economy and extreme cold weather events driving higher use of gas for heating. ... (more about ...)

2021 World LNG Report

Global LNG trade increased to 356.1 MT, a small increase of 1.4 MT versus 2019, but another year of consecutive growth in LNG trade despite COVID-19 related impacts on the supply and demand sides. This was mostly supported by increased exports from the USA and Australia, together adding 13.4 MT of exports. Asia Pacific and Asia again imported the most volumes in 2020, together accounting for more than 70% of global LNG imports. Asia also accounted for the largest growth in imports in 2020 – adding 9.5 MT of net LNG imports versus 2019. (more about ...)

2020 World LNG Report

This 11th annual Global LNG Report features key global LNG industry updates, right across its value chain, demonstrating yet another strong year of growth for this crucial segment of the natural gas sector. LNG continues to enhance global energy security and increase the flexibility of access to abundant global gas supplies.

– In its sixth consecutive year of growth, the LNG trade increased by 13% to a total of 354.7 MT.

– FSRU continues to be an exciting and growing segment, improving access to modern energy and energy security worldwide. Of the 37 existing LNG import markets as of February 2020, 19 imported LNG with FSRUs, and six of those had onshore terminals as well. (more about ...)

Flexible LNG Facilities 2015-2018

Flexible LNG facilities are those facilities to which functions and activities are added or changed to allow for different uses or operations. In many cases, the original design purpose for these LNG facilities is retained but, in other cases, changes may alter the design function.
Traditionally, the LNG value chain has been rigid, with building blocks which are well-defined with limited functionalities: LNG Export Facilities; Floating Facilities; LNG Import Terminals; Peak Shaving Facilities (... more about ...)

FLNG Report 2015-2018

The scope of the study group “FLNG concepts (LNG FPSO & FSRU), facts and differentiators” was to explore the floating LNG concept’s evolution in the recent years, as to provide a view on the trending facts and driving differentiators for the potential use of this concept, in the LNG industry. Commercial and technical aspects provide insights in facts and differentiators for the development of FLNG solutions and their particularities. Criteria are extracted, which make FLNG projects feasible, including success/non-success stories. Specific stand-alone study cases are compiled, but also cases with comparisons of onshore versus floating developments. (... more about ...)

2019 WORLD LNG REPORT

Global trade increased sharply again in 2018, following a strong performance in 2017, rising by 28.2 MT to reach 316.5 MT. This marks the fifth consecutive year of incremental growth, and the third-largest annual increase ever (behind only 2010 and 2017). The increase was driven by higher production at new liquefaction plants in Australia, the United States, and Russia. Legacy projects had mixed results, with production falling in Malaysia owing to pipeline issues. Beyond large exporters adding new liquefaction trains, Cameroon joined the club of LNG exporters with the world’s second floating liquefaction project coming online during the first half of 2018. As was the case in 2017, LNG import growth in 2018 was driven by China and South Korea, the world’s second- and third-largest LNG importers. Two new markets began receiving LNG supply in 2018: Bangladesh and Panama. (... more about ...)

Global gas report 2018

Natural gas is in the midst of a rapid growth phase. Since 2010, average global gas consumption has grown by 1.8% per year, making it the fastest growing energy source other than renewable power. In that time, the global gas industry has gone through a significant transformation, characterized by the North America shale boom, the rapid growth of LNG, and the development of new gas markets in Asia and the Middle East. This growth is as a result of the multiple benefits offered by gas as a clean, abundant, flexible, and cost-effective fuel.

Global gas report 2018

2017 World LNG Report

2016 Global LNG trade jumps 5% to set new record for third consecutive year, as LNG comes to the fore as a fuel of choice. Barcelona/Tokyo, 5 April 2017 - The International Gas Union (IGU) today released its 2017 World LNG Report, examining the current state of the Global LNG Industry. The latest report highlights the dynamic 2016 experienced by the global LNG industry – with significant growth in LNG supply projects, as well as increases in demand for LNG as a fuel from new and existing markets across the globe.

IGU Releases 2017 World LNG Report

2016 World LNG Report: A Global Industry Ready for Significant Growth
Perth/Oslo, 12 April 2016 - The International Gas Union (IGU) today released its 2016 World LNG Report, which demonstrates how the global LNG industry is poised for growth and plays a key role in expanding access to natural gas in the world’s future energy mix. Natural gas is a vital energy resource that can lead to a lower carbon future, cleaner air in metropolitan areas, and a prosperous economic future.

IGU Newsletter - December 2016:
IGU Reaction to the IEA World Energy Outlook 2016: The IGU urges policymakers to set clear strategies and policies that support the expanded role of natural gas in the energy mix as they look to achieve a sustainable energy future. David Carroll, President of the IGU commented: "The latest WEO 2016 clearly outlines the strong case for natural gas. Any sustainable and affordable energy mix that addresses the continued growth in global energy needs and efforts to mitigate climate change has to include natural gas. Natural gas can improve air quality in our cities, enable renewable energies and a smooth transition to a lower carbon economy.”

IGU Newsletter - October 2016:
Urban Air Quality - new WHO report released - At COP 21 in Paris, the IGU issued the report Urban Air Quality to bring attention and focus on one of the most urgent environmental issues that we are facing. The IGU will be releasing the 2nd Edition of that report at COP 22 Marrakesh in November. Read the WHO report here