LNG demand potential in Asia

The Asian LNG importing markets (and those expected to become LNG importers) loom large in the aspirations of LNG supply project investors. The mature Asian LNG importers Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan commenced LNG imports in 1969, 1986, and 1990 respectively. As a group these 'mature' Asian LNG importers accounted for two-thirds to three-quarters of global LNG imports from 1980 to 2016. These countries have minimal domestic gas resources and depend on natural gas to differing degrees in their power and non-power sectors. All three markets have enjoyed economic growth based on exportoriented manufacturing and technology goods production; however, with the slowdown in Chinese growth and the limits to growth inherent in this economic model, there are questions regarding their future economic performance. Japan in particular is struggling to stimulate domestic demand in the face of ongoing defl ationary tendencies. Declining population trends are also a relatively new challenge for these countries, threatening domestic consumption growth and workforce renewal.