Natural gas trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in natural gas was worth $171.07 billion in 2024, about 331.72 million tonnes. That is an increase of 61% since 2017, and down 21% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $171.07B | 331.72M t |
| 2023 | $217.18B | 344.88M t |
| 2022 | $411.72B | 321.88M t |
| 2021 | $189.26B | 449.89M t |
| 2020 | $77.81B | 402.00M t |
| 2019 | $107.50B | 394.06M t |
| 2018 | $130.89B | 376.70M t |
| 2017 | $106.29B | 374.92M t |
Top natural gas exporting countries
Exports are led by Norway (30%), Belgium (13%) and Russia (12%). 79 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 55%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Norway | $50.73B | 30% |
| Belgium | $22.56B | 13% |
| Russia | $21.21B | 12% |
| Algeria | $11.81B | 6.9% |
| Turkmenistan | $10.68B | 6.2% |
| Azerbaijan | $8.33B | 4.9% |
| France | $7.74B | 4.5% |
| Canada | $5.96B | 3.5% |
| United States | $5.79B | 3.4% |
| United Kingdom | $4.56B | 2.7% |
| Myanmar | $3.05B | 1.8% |
| China | $2.09B | 1.2% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
Italy is the biggest buyer with 14% of world imports, ahead of Germany and China. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 39% across 118 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $23.16B | 14% |
| Germany | $22.30B | 13% |
| China | $21.27B | 12% |
| France | $20.73B | 12% |
| United Kingdom | $12.65B | 7.4% |
| Belgium | $10.54B | 6.2% |
| Netherlands | $7.37B | 4.3% |
| United States | $5.96B | 3.5% |
| Mexico | $4.17B | 2.4% |
| Hungary | $3.70B | 2.2% |
| Spain | $3.54B | 2.1% |
| Turkey | $2.99B | 1.8% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $0.52 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Algeria averaged $0.58 per kg and Canada $0.49 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Natural gas (HS 2711.21) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 2711.21: Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: in gaseous state, natural gas. HS 2711 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most natural gas?
Norway exported $50.73 billion in 2024, 30% of the world total, followed by Belgium (13%) and Russia (12%). In all, 79 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most natural gas?
Italy imported $23.16 billion in 2024, 14% of world imports, ahead of Germany (13%) and China (12%). The top three importers together take 39%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in natural gas?
It was worth $171.07 billion in 2024, about 331.72 million tonnes. That is an increase of 61% since 2017. The peak year was 2022 at $411.72 billion. 79 countries reported exports and 118 reported imports.
What is the average price of natural gas per kg?
The world average declared value was about $0.52 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Algeria averaged $0.58 per kg and Canada $0.49 per kg, so grade and origin matter. The average mixes every grade and size, so use it as a market reference rather than an offer.
What is the HS code for natural gas?
The HS code for natural gas is subheading 2711.21, in chapter 27 (mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 2711 page.
How can I find natural gas buyers and suppliers?
Company names sit below these country totals: EximDataX reads the customs records shipment by shipment, with dates and values. We can show natural gas buyers and suppliers on a short call.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.