IEA Projects First Gas Demand Drop in Middle East Since 1993 Due to Conflict
Quick Look
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts a 4% decline in Middle East gas demand by 2026, marking the first drop since 1993.
- This contraction is attributed to damage to production facilities and reduced output from gas-intensive industries caused by the ongoing military conflict.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects a significant decline in gas demand in the Middle East by 2026, the first such drop in 33 years, due to the ongoing military conflict impacting production facilities and industries.
MOSCOW, July 7. /TASS/. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects a decline in gas demand in the Middle East in 2026, the first such drop in 33 years, due to the military conflict.
"In the Middle East, where local gas production and processing facilities have been damaged and the output of gas-intensive industries such as fertilizer production has decreased, gas demand is projected to contract by around 4% in 2026 - the region’s first annual decline in consumption since 1993," the agency said in its Gas Market Report.
Thus, gas demand in Middle Eastern countries could amount to 615 bln cubic meters (bcm) in 2026, down from 641 bcm in 2025.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Middle East gas demand to fall by 4% in 2026.
Likely · Within years
Open Questions
- What specific military conflict is causing the damage?
- What is the extent of damage to production facilities?
- What are the long-term implications for regional energy markets?
