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CHAPTER THREE
Arab And World Developments
III. NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION, TRADE
AND PROCESSING
1. World Developments
1-1 Natural Gas Consumption
World consumption growth of natural gas in 2011 increased by
2.2% compared with its level in 2010. It totalled about 3222.9 billion
cubic meters in 2011 against about 3153.1 billion cubic meters in
2010. The share of natural gas in the world’s total commercial energy
consumption in 2011 remained at its level in 2010, 27.7%.
Most regions of the world have seen increase in gas consumption
at various rates in 2011 except in Europe & Eurasia region. The
maximum increase rate of 6.8% was recorded in Middle East, where
the total consumption increased from 377.3 billion cubic meters in
2010 to 403.1 billion cubic meters in 2011. Asia Pacific came next
5.9%, where the total consumption increased from 557.9 billion
cubic meters in 2010 to 590.6 billion cubic meters in 2011. Then
North America came next with a share of 3.3%, where the total
consumption increased from 836.2 billion cubic meter in 2010 to
863.8 cubic meters in 2011. The minimum increase rate of 2.9% was
recorded in Middle and South America, where the total consumption
increased from 150.2 billion cubic meters in 2010 to 154.5 billion
cubic meters in 2011. Natural gas consumption in Africa increased
by 2.7%, where it increased from 106.9 billion cubic meters in 2010
to 109.8 billion cubic meters in 2011.
Total natural gas consumption in Europe and Eurasia (including Europe,
the CIS and Turkey) decreased by 2.1%, where it decreased from 1124.6
billion cubic meters in 2010 to 1101.1 billion cubic meters in 2011.
