From fueling global kitchens to propelling industries, the LPG market surged to 292 million metric tons in 2022, a complex landscape shaped by shifting geopolitics, volatile supply chains, and the relentless demand for cleaner energy.
Key Takeaways
- Global LPG production in 2022 totaled 292 million metric tons, marking a 2.8% increase from 2021 primarily driven by higher output from Middle East refineries.
- The United States produced 45.6 million metric tons of LPG in 2022, accounting for 15.6% of global production, largely from natural gas processing.
- Saudi Arabia's LPG production reached 25.4 million metric tons in 2022, with 70% derived from crude oil refining processes.
- Global LPG consumption grew to 305 million metric tons in 2022, up 3.5% year-over-year.
- China's LPG consumption reached 25.4 million metric tons in 2022, 80% for petrochemicals.
- India's residential LPG use was 12.8 million metric tons in 2022 via 290 million connections.
- Global LPG market size was valued at $85.6 billion in 2022, projected to grow at 4.2% CAGR.
- LPG price averaged $650 per metric ton in Northwest Europe in 2022.
- Asia-Pacific LPG market share was 45% of global in 2022 by volume.
- Global LPG export terminals numbered 450 in 2022, with 60% in Middle East.
- US Gulf Coast LPG export capacity reached 4.2 million barrels per day in 2022.
- China's LPG import terminals handled 28 million metric tons in 2022, up 10%.
- Global LPG leak incidents per million tons transported were 0.12 in 2022.
- US LPG pipeline safety record showed 99.97% incident-free operations in 2022.
- LPG combustion emits 20% less CO2 than gasoline per MJ in 2022 studies.
Global LPG production rose significantly in 2022, led by growth in the Middle East and United States.
Consumption Statistics
- Global LPG consumption grew to 305 million metric tons in 2022, up 3.5% year-over-year.
- China's LPG consumption reached 25.4 million metric tons in 2022, 80% for petrochemicals.
- India's residential LPG use was 12.8 million metric tons in 2022 via 290 million connections.
- US LPG consumption for petrochemicals hit 18.2 million metric tons in 2022.
- Turkey imported and consumed 7.1 million metric tons of LPG in 2022 for autogas.
- South Korea's LPG demand was 9.8 million metric tons in 2022, mainly industrial.
- Japan's LPG consumption declined to 16.5 million metric tons in 2022 amid energy shifts.
- Europe's LPG use for heating fell 5.2% to 14.3 million metric tons in 2022.
- Brazil's residential and autogas LPG consumption was 8.9 million metric tons in 2022.
- Saudi Arabia consumed 6.2 million metric tons domestically in 2022, 25% of production.
- Poland's LPG autogas consumption reached 3.4 million metric tons in 2022.
- Mexico used 4.1 million metric tons of LPG in 2022, 70% imported from US.
- Thailand's LPG consumption for vehicles was 5.6 million metric tons in 2022.
- Vietnam imported 1.8 million metric tons for consumption in 2022, growing 12%.
- Australia's residential LPG use was 1.2 million metric tons in 2022.
- Egypt consumed 4.5 million metric tons of LPG in 2022, subsidized for households.
- Indonesia's LPG household consumption was 7.9 million metric tons in 2022.
- Ukraine's LPG consumption dropped 22% to 1.1 million metric tons in 2022 due to war.
Consumption Statistics Interpretation
While the globe thirstily drank up a record 305 million tons of LPG last year, the devil is in the details—from petrochemicals fueling China's factories and America's industries to subsidized stoves feeding India's and Indonesia's families, yet Europe's heaters cooled off, Japan's demand dimmed, and Ukraine's supply was brutally severed by war.
Infrastructure and Distribution
- Global LPG export terminals numbered 450 in 2022, with 60% in Middle East.
- US Gulf Coast LPG export capacity reached 4.2 million barrels per day in 2022.
- China's LPG import terminals handled 28 million metric tons in 2022, up 10%.
- World's largest LPG carrier fleet was 320 VLGCs in 2022, capacity 28 million cbm.
- India added 5 new LPG bottling plants in 2022, total capacity 4.5 million tons/year.
- Middle East LPG loading terminals exported 75 million tons via 12 major ports in 2022.
- Europe's LPG pipeline network spanned 5,200 km in 2022.
- Australia expanded LPG rail distribution to 1.2 million tons/year capacity in 2022.
- Brazil's LPG truck fleet delivered 85% of domestic supply in 2022.
- Singapore's Jurong LPG terminal stored 180,000 cbm in 2022.
- Nigeria built 3 new LPG depots with 50,000 MT capacity in 2022.
- Japan's LPG import ports received 1,200 cargoes in 2022.
- Turkey's LPG underground storage held 1.5 million tons peak in 2022.
- Global LPG cylinder filling stations numbered over 1 million in 2022.
- Canada's Trans Mountain pipeline transported 120,000 bpd LPG in 2022.
- Egypt's LPG distribution network served 15 million households via 1,200 depots in 2022.
- Indonesia's LPG sea distribution via small tankers covered 7,000 islands in 2022.
- LPG road tanker fleet worldwide was 85,000 units in 2022.
Infrastructure and Distribution Interpretation
While global exports are masterfully dominated by the Middle East, the real story is the sprawling, human-scale logistics—from VLGCs crossing oceans to trucks navigating Brazilian roads and cylinders reaching remote Indonesian islands—that collectively fuel the world's stoves and industries.
Market and Economic Statistics
- Global LPG market size was valued at $85.6 billion in 2022, projected to grow at 4.2% CAGR.
- LPG price averaged $650 per metric ton in Northwest Europe in 2022.
- Asia-Pacific LPG market share was 45% of global in 2022 by volume.
- US LPG exports reached 35.2 million metric tons in 2022, valued at $28 billion.
- Propane traded at $0.85 per gallon average in Mont Belvieu hub in 2022.
- Global LPG trade volume was 110 million metric tons in 2022, up 4%.
- China's LPG imports cost $18.5 billion in 2022.
- Middle East to Asia LPG freight rates averaged $45 per ton in 2022.
- India's LPG import bill rose to $12.3 billion in FY2022.
- Europe LPG spot prices peaked at €950 per ton in August 2022.
- VLGC charter rates hit $150,000 per day average in Q3 2022.
- Saudi Aramco LPG sales revenue was $15.4 billion in 2022.
- Global LPG storage capacity grew 2.1% to 45 million metric tons in 2022.
- Autogas market represented 15% of global LPG demand in 2022.
- Petrochemical feedstock use drove 55% of LPG consumption growth in 2022.
- LPG futures trading volume on CME increased 28% to 1.2 million contracts in 2022.
Market and Economic Statistics Interpretation
While balancing a vast global market of $85.6 billion where price shocks can peak at €950 a ton, the LPG industry cheerfully ships 110 million tons of it—largely for our plastics addiction—on ships costing $150,000 a day, proving that energy, petrochemicals, and sheer logistics nerve are a costly, interconnected triad.
Production Statistics
- Global LPG production in 2022 totaled 292 million metric tons, marking a 2.8% increase from 2021 primarily driven by higher output from Middle East refineries.
- The United States produced 45.6 million metric tons of LPG in 2022, accounting for 15.6% of global production, largely from natural gas processing.
- Saudi Arabia's LPG production reached 25.4 million metric tons in 2022, with 70% derived from crude oil refining processes.
- Iran's LPG output in 2022 was 12.8 million metric tons, constrained by sanctions but still contributing 4.4% to global totals.
- China's domestic LPG production hit 9.2 million metric tons in 2022, supplemented by imports to meet rising petrochemical demand.
- Europe's LPG production declined to 22.1 million metric tons in 2022 due to refinery closures amid the energy crisis.
- Russia's LPG production stood at 14.7 million metric tons in 2022, with exports redirected to Asia post-Ukraine conflict.
- UAE's LPG production from ADNOC refineries reached 8.9 million metric tons in 2022, focusing on propane-rich output.
- Australia's LPG production was 2.3 million metric tons in 2022, declining due to maturing gas fields.
- Qatar's North Field expansion boosted LPG production to 11.2 million metric tons in 2022.
- Algeria produced 6.8 million metric tons of LPG in 2022, with 85% exported to Europe and Asia.
- Nigeria's LPG production increased to 1.9 million metric tons in 2022 from new refinery optimizations.
- Canada's LPG output reached 5.4 million metric tons in 2022, driven by Montney shale gas.
- Egypt's LPG production was 3.7 million metric tons in 2022, reducing import dependency.
- Indonesia produced 2.1 million metric tons of LPG in 2022, with Pertamina leading output.
- Norway's LPG production from offshore fields was 1.8 million metric tons in 2022.
- Brazil's LPG production hit 12.5 million metric tons in 2022 from Petrobras refineries.
- Kuwait's LPG output reached 7.2 million metric tons in 2022, with high butane content.
- US shale gas processing yielded 38% of national LPG production in 2022.
- Middle East refineries contributed 42% of global LPG supply in 2022.
Production Statistics Interpretation
While the global LPG market grew by a modest 2.8% in 2022, it was a tale of two hemispheres and political realities, with Middle Eastern refineries and US shale gas pushing production up as Europe's output declined, sanctions constrained Iran, and Russia pivoted eastward.
Safety Environment and Policy
- Global LPG leak incidents per million tons transported were 0.12 in 2022.
- US LPG pipeline safety record showed 99.97% incident-free operations in 2022.
- LPG combustion emits 20% less CO2 than gasoline per MJ in 2022 studies.
- World LPG producers adopted 95% methane emission controls by 2022.
- EU LPG cylinder standards reduced accidents by 40% since 2015 implementation in 2022 data.
- India's LPG safety audits prevented 1,200 potential incidents in 2022.
- Global autogas vehicles numbered 27 million in 2022, with 0.05 fatal accidents per million km.
- Bio-LPG production reached 0.5 million tons globally in 2022, cutting emissions 80%.
- China's LPG storage safety compliance rate was 98.7% in 2022 inspections.
- LPG flaring reduction initiatives saved 15 million tons CO2e in 2022.
- US NTSB reported 12 LPG truck accidents in 2022, down 15% from prior year.
- Propane's auto-ignition temperature of 920°F enhances safety over gasoline at 850°F.
- Global LPG policy subsidies totaled $25 billion in 2022, mainly in Asia.
- EU REPowerEU plan allocated €2 billion for LPG transition in 2022-2027.
- LPG's lifecycle GHG emissions are 15-20% lower than diesel for heating.
- Worldwide LPG cylinder recycling rate reached 92% in 2022.
Safety Environment and Policy Interpretation
This collective 2022 data shows the LPG industry is steadily working to ensure its product remains a responsibly combustible boy scout—less likely to leak, significantly cleaner burning, and far more recyclable than its fossil fuel cousins, all while being chaperoned by increasingly strict global safety protocols.
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