Trade
Global natural gas trade grew by 1.8% in 2013,
well below the historical average of 5.2%.
Pipeline shipments grew by 2.3%, driven by
a 12% increase in net Russian exports, which
offset declines in Algeria (-17.9%), Norway
(-4.5%) and Canada (-5.5%). Among importers,
growth in Germany (+14%) and China (+32.4%)
more than offset a continued decline in the US
(-10.9%). Global LNG trade rebounded by 0.6%
in 2013. Increased imports in South Korea
(+10.7%), China (+22.9%), and South and Central
American importers (+44.7%) were partially
offset by lower imports in Spain (-35.6%), the
UK (-31.9%) and France (-19.4%). Qatar remained
the largest LNG exporter (32% of global exports),
and accounted for the largest growth increment
(+2.7%). LNG’s share of global gas trade
declined slightly to 31.4% – and international
natural gas trade accounted for 30.9% of
global consumption.