The ASEAN region is on track to shift from being a net gas exporter to a net importer by the end of the decade. Natural gas remains a cornerstone of the region's energy mix, with consumption reaching close to 180 bcm in 2025. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand together account for about 85% of this demand. While gas consumption grew modestly over the past decade, it is projected to rise by 18% between 2025 and 2030, driven by new gas-fired power plants and industrial expansion.
However, regional gas production, which stood at around 210 bcm in 2025, is expected to decline by about 4% by 2030, despite new projects in Indonesia and Vietnam. This decline in production, combined with rising demand, is eroding the region's gas surplus and will likely turn ASEAN into a net importer by the end of the decade.
The growing reliance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) is exposing the region to supply and price risks. LNG imports into ASEAN member states more than tripled between 2015 and 2025 and are expected to nearly double again by 2030. Over two-thirds of these imports come from outside the region, with Australia and Qatar being the largest suppliers, accounting for 45% of total LNG imports in 2025.
Maritime choke points and infrastructure constraints are key bottlenecks. In 2025, around one-fifth of ASEAN LNG imports passed through the Strait of Hormuz, and more than half involved transit through or within the Strait of Malacca. The 2026 conflict in the Middle East disrupted LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz, causing deliveries to decline by around 75% in the first eight months of 2026, forcing importers to secure replacement cargoes at higher costs.
Storage and cross-border interconnectivity remain limited. The region has just over 3 bcm of LNG storage, equivalent to less than 2% of annual gas consumption, and no operating or planned underground gas storage facilities. Progress towards an integrated regional gas pipeline network has been slower than expected, with the Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline initiative now focusing more on LNG terminals and flexible connectivity solutions.
Low-emissions gases, such as biogas and biomethane, offer longer-term security and decarbonisation benefits but will remain a niche supply source through 2030. ASEAN member states have sustainable biogas and biomethane production potential equivalent to around 65 bcm of natural gas, but current production is negligible and unlikely to exceed 1 bcm by 2030 due to infrastructure, policy, and economic barriers.