Global natural gas production increased in August compared with
July but declined year-on-year.
According to the Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI) of
the International Energy Forum (IEF), global natural gas production
rose by 5.1 billion cubic metres in August 2026 compared with the
previous month, but fell by 1 billion cubic metres
year-on-year.
The monthly increase was mainly driven by production growth of
2.7 billion cubic metres in China, 2.2 billion cubic metres in
Russia and 0.3 billion cubic metres in Qatar.
The year-on-year decline in production was primarily due to a
reduction of 10.8 billion cubic metres in Qatar’s natural gas
output, largely associated with the closure of the Strait of
Hormuz, as well as a decrease of 0.4 billion cubic metres in
Azerbaijan.
“This decline was partially offset by production increases of
4.5 billion cubic metres in the United States, 2.9 billion cubic
metres in China, 1.3 billion cubic metres in Russia, 0.9 billion
cubic metres in Canada and 0.6 billion cubic metres in Nigeria,”
the IEF report stated.
The report also noted that natural gas demand in countries
reporting data to JODI increased by 1.8 billion cubic metres in
August 2026 compared with July and by 6.1 billion cubic metres
year-on-year.
The monthly rise in demand was mainly driven by increased
consumption of 1.8 billion cubic metres in Canada, 0.9 billion
cubic metres in the United States, 0.4 billion cubic metres each in
Australia and Germany, and 0.3 billion cubic metres in Qatar.
Meanwhile, demand declined by 0.9 billion cubic metres in Japan,
0.7 billion cubic metres in Italy and 0.4 billion cubic metres in
Indonesia.
Year-on-year demand growth was primarily driven by increased
consumption of 4.7 billion cubic metres in the United States, 2.9
billion cubic metres in Canada and 0.6 billion cubic metres in
Indonesia.
It was also noted that natural gas demand declined year-on-year
by 2 billion cubic metres in Qatar and 0.4 billion cubic metres in
Japan.
Image: Dado Ruvic / Reuters
