- Natural Gas Production refers to the total volume of marketable natural gas extracted from underground reservoirs within a country during a given year.
China Natural Gas Production was 234.3 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, up 5.6% on 2022. The Natural Gas Production dataset of China from 2015 to 2023 provides a comprehensive overview of the country's natural gas industry, highlighting annual production volumes, output trends, and developments across the upstream energy sector. Measured in billion cubic metres (bcm), the dataset represents the total volume of marketable natural gas produced annually.
China Natural Gas Production moved from 135.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 234.3 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (+72.7%), an average of +7.1% a year. The series high was 234.3 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 and the low 135.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015.
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2015) is 98.60 Billion Cubic Metres. The sharpest single-year move was +9.8% in 2020.
Among the 37 countries in this dataset, China ranks 4 for 2023, behind U.S. (1,035 Billion Cubic Metres) and Russia (586.4 Billion Cubic Metres). It accounts for 5.8% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Billion Cubic Metres.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Billion Cubic Metres | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023Peak | 234.3 | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 221.8 | +6% |
| 2021 | 209.2 | +7.8% |
| 2020 | 194 | +9.8% |
| 2019 | 176.7 | +9.5% |
| 2018 | 161.4 | +8.2% |
| 2017 | 149.2 | +8.2% |
| 2016 | 137.9 | +1.6% |
| 2015 Trough | 135.7 | — |
Regional context
Natural Gas Production by country, 2023, Billion Cubic Metres. China is highlighted.
Data definition
Natural Gas Production — - Natural Gas Production refers to the total volume of marketable natural gas extracted from underground reservoirs within a country during a given year. It is typically measured in billion cubic meters (bcm) and represents the production of natural gas that is available for sale, distribution, or consumption after the removal of impurities and non-hydrocarbon components where applicable. The indicator includes gas produced from both associated gas fields (produced alongside crude oil) and non-associated gas fields. Natural Gas Production is a key measure of a country's upstream gas industry, resource availability, energy security, and contribution to domestic and global natural gas supply.
The data includes the production of marketable natural gas from conventional and unconventional sources, including associated gas, non-associated gas, shale gas, tight gas, coalbed methane, and offshore gas fields where commercially recoverable. It covers gas produced for domestic consumption, exports, storage injection, and industrial use after field processing to remove water, impurities, and certain non-hydrocarbon gases, as defined by national reporting methodologies. Production from both onshore and offshore operations is included. The indicator is compiled using standardized international energy reporting methodologies based on national production statistics and industry data, enabling consistent comparison of natural gas production across countries and over time.
The data excludes natural gas that is vented, flared, reinjected into reservoirs for pressure maintenance, or otherwise not marketed unless specifically included under national reporting practices. It also excludes natural gas liquids (NGLs), lease condensate, crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing volumes, and refined petroleum products. The indicator does not measure natural gas consumption, reserves, imports, exports, pipeline transmission, storage inventories, or distribution losses. Differences in national reporting standards, definitions of marketable gas, processing practices, and estimation methodologies may result in minor variations in reported values across countries.
Natural Gas Production — - Natural Gas Production refers to the total volume of marketable natural gas extracted from underground reservoirs within a country during a given year. It is typically measured in billion cubic meters (bcm) and represents the production of natural gas that is available for sale, distribution, or consumption after the removal of impurities and non-hydrocarbon components where applicable. The indicator includes gas produced from both associated gas fields (produced alongside crude oil) and non-associated gas fields. Natural Gas Production is a key measure of a country's upstream gas industry, resource availability, energy security, and contribution to domestic and global natural gas supply.
It serves as an important indicator of resource availability, production capacity, energy security, industrial performance, and China's ability to meet rapidly growing domestic energy demand.
China recorded natural gas production of 135.7 bcm in 2015, increasing to 137.9 bcm in 2016 and 149.2 bcm in 2017. Production continued to rise to 161.4 bcm in 2018 and 176.7 bcm in 2019, supported by expanding upstream investment and the development of conventional and unconventional gas resources. Output increased further to 194.0 bcm in 2020, 209.2 bcm in 2021, 221.8 bcm in 2022, and reached a record 234.3 bcm in 2023, reflecting sustained exploration activities, technological advancements, and growing national emphasis on natural gas as a cleaner energy source.
Overall, the dataset demonstrates a strong and consistent upward trend in natural gas production throughout the review period. Continuous production growth highlights China's commitment to strengthening domestic gas supply, improving energy security, and reducing reliance on imported fuels while supporting the country's energy transition objectives.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating China's natural gas production trends, analyzing upstream industry performance, and assessing domestic gas supply. It supports energy security planning, investment analysis, market assessments, and policy evaluation while providing valuable insights for researchers, analysts, industry stakeholders, and policymakers studying production efficiency, resource development, infrastructure expansion, and the long-term growth and competitiveness of China's natural gas industry.
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Definition- Natural Gas Production refers to the total volume of marketable natural gas extracted from underground reservoirs within a country during a given year. It is typically measured in billion cubic meters (bcm) and represents the production of natural gas that is available for sale, distribution, or consumption after the removal of impurities and non-hydrocarbon components where applicable. The indicator includes gas produced from both associated gas fields (produced alongside crude oil) and non-associated gas fields. Natural Gas Production is a key measure of a country's upstream gas industry, resource availability, energy security, and contribution to domestic and global natural gas supply.
China Natural Gas Production was 234.3 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, up 5.6% on 2022.
China Natural Gas Production moved from 135.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 234.3 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (+72.7%), an average of +7.1% a year. The series high was 234.3 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 and the low 135.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015.
The highest value was 234.3 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 and the lowest was 135.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015.
Included: The data includes the production of marketable natural gas from conventional and unconventional sources, including associated gas, non-associated gas, shale gas, tight gas, coalbed methane, and offshore gas fields where commercially recoverable. It covers gas produced for domestic consumption, exports, storage injection, and industrial use after field processing to remove water, impurities, and certain non-hydrocarbon gases, as defined by national reporting methodologies. Production from both onshore and offshore operations is included. The indicator is compiled using standardized international energy reporting methodologies based on national production statistics and industry data, enabling consistent comparison of natural gas production across countries and over time. Excluded: The data excludes natural gas that is vented, flared, reinjected into reservoirs for pressure maintenance, or otherwise not marketed unless specifically included under national reporting practices. It also excludes natural gas liquids (NGLs), lease condensate, crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing volumes, and refined petroleum products. The indicator does not measure natural gas consumption, reserves, imports, exports, pipeline transmission, storage inventories, or distribution losses. Differences in national reporting standards, definitions of marketable gas, processing practices, and estimation methodologies may result in minor variations in reported values across countries.
The series is sourced from energyinst.org (https://www.energyinst.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1542714/684_EI_Stat_Review_V16_DIGITAL.pdf). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Billion Cubic Metres.
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