Global demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) is expected to increase to nearly 700 million tonnes a year by 2050, an increase of around 65 percent from 2025 levels, according to Shell’s LNG Outlook 2026, as countries continue to prioritise flexible and reliable energy security offered by gas and LNG.
Tensions spurred by the US-Iran war are stalling the global supply of LNG, falling well below the 2026 projections by the major energy company Shell, though it is expected to rise sharply in 2027.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a significant waterway, during the peak of the war led to a bust in global crude and gas supply, skyrocketing prices, and the shut-in of around one-fifth of global monthly LNG supply.
Shell had expected this year’s LNG trade to surpass the 422 million metric tons reached in 2025; however, the closure of the strait hampered trade.
But the energy company in its latest 2026 LNG Outlook expects global LNG demand to still rise by around 65 percent by 2050, driven largely by Asia as countries seek lower-emission alternatives to coal and data centres boost power demand.
