ABSTRACT
Natural gas plays a relatively less important role in Asia so far but the region is a global leader in liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade. Growing imbalance in natural gas production and consumption in the region since the 1990s has led to a high reliance on imports, and the LNG has emerged as the preferred solution due to various challenges to cross-border pipeline development in the region. The developing countries of the region are poised for a rapid growth in natural gas demand and the continued imbalance in production and consumption suggests high dependence on gas trade up to 2035. Japan has remained a major gas user in the region, but China and India will play an important role in the evolving role of the industry in the future.
