Trade routes will start to develop from 2025
Global hydrogen trade to develop in four phases
Thousands of miles of pipelines and more than 1,100 dedicated ships will be needed by 2050, says McKinsey report
Global trade in low-carbon hydrogen will develop across four distinct phases, ending up with a fully mature traded market by 2050, according to the Global Hydrogen Flows report carried out by consultancy McKinsey for industry group the Hydrogen Council. Trade in pure hydrogen is expected to remain regional and be shipped via a carrier only if there is no local demand—although some trade does develop as costs come down close to 2050. However, hydrogen derivatives—including ammonia for end-use, methanol, synthetic kerosene and direct reduced iron—will increasingly be shipped around the world, given relatively low transport costs. 400mn t/yr – Volume of hydrogen traded by 2050 During th
Also in this section
18 March 2026
The second fossil-fuel price shock in four years can be a much-needed catalyst for investment in the sector
9 March 2026
Hydrogen has not stalled in the UK because the technology does not work. The problem is that the system around it does not yet move at the speed required
4 March 2026
Turmoil in Middle East reminds nascent clean hydrogen sector that its future prospects are dependent on global energy markets and geopolitics
25 February 2026
Low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia development is advancing much more slowly and unevenly than once expected, with high costs and policy uncertainty thinning investment. Meanwhile, surging energy demand is reinforcing the role of natural gas and LNG as the backbone of the global energy system, panellists at LNG2026 said
