Natural Gas Liquids Production โ - Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Production refers to the total volume of liquid hydrocarbons recovered from natural gas during production and processing within a given year. It is typically measured in thousand barrels per day (kb/d) and includes hydrocarbons that are separated from natural gas streams because they condense into liquids under normal surface conditions. Major components include ethane, propane, butane, isobutane, and natural gasoline (pentanes plus). This indicator reflects a country's capability to recover valuable liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas production and is widely used to assess upstream gas processing activity, hydrocarbon resource utilization, and supply of feedstocks for petrochemical, heating, and transportation applications.
Measured in thousand barrels daily, the dataset reflects total NGL production and serves as an important indicator of natural gas processing activity, hydrocarbon resource development, investment trends, and the overall performance of Iran's energy sector. The dataset supports evaluation of production growth, processing capacity, and long-term supply trends.
Iran produced 461 thousand barrels daily of NGLs in 2015 before increasing to 488 thousand in 2016 and declining to 448 thousand in 2017. Production recovered to 479 thousand barrels daily in 2018 and 487 thousand in 2019 before increasing to 496 thousand in 2020. Output expanded significantly to 582 thousand barrels daily in 2021, 633 thousand in 2022, and 722 thousand barrels daily in 2023, representing the highest level during the review period. The sustained growth reflects expanding gas processing capacity, improved recovery of associated gas liquids, and continued development of domestic natural gas resources.
Overall, the dataset demonstrates strong long-term growth despite moderate fluctuations during the early years. The sharp increase after 2020 highlights expanding processing infrastructure and greater utilization of natural gas resources. Rising NGL production has strengthened feedstock availability for downstream industries while reinforcing Iran's position as a major producer within the Middle East.
The dataset serves as a valuable resource for monitoring national NGL production performance, evaluating supply trends, assessing upstream investment, supporting market analysis, forecasting future production, and enabling policymakers, researchers, investors, and industry stakeholders to develop effective energy strategies and production planning.