Downward drift

Gas production across the region is set to decline, with China the major exception, leading to increasing LNG imports

After peaking at over 440bn cubic metres a year in 2015, gas production in Asia is predicted to start gradually declining in the coming decade. Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar—and to some extent Malaysia—will see falling indigenous production from established reserve bases. By 2030, gas production in Asia is predicted at just over 390bn cm/y, according to Rystad Energy, representing an annual average reduction of 0.8%. Gas production is set to increase most markedly in China, where output will rise from 120bn cm/y in 2016 to around 150bn cm/y by 2030, surpassing all other Asian nations. Dominant producer PetroChina has been steadily building gas production capacity across