New Energy Exploitation and Application

Review

Russia’s Energy Cooperation with the Asia‑Pacific Region: LNG, Pipeline Gas, and Trade Reorientation under Sanctions

Kondratov, D. I. (2026). Russia’s Energy Cooperation with the Asia‑Pacific Region: LNG, Pipeline Gas, and Trade Reorientation under Sanctions. New Energy Exploitation and Application, 5(2), 76–89. https://doi.org/10.54963/neea.v5i2.2418

Authors

  • Dmitrii I. Kondratov

    Institute of Economics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117218, Russia
    Department of Economics, Russian Foreign Trade Academy, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Moscow 119285, Russia

Received: 7 April 2026; Revised: 19 June 2026; Accepted: 23 June 2026; Published: 30 June 2026

The energy sector in Asia-Pacific countries is currently undergoing a transformation. This is explained by the gradual transition to a post-industrial development model, which involves a gradual increase in the share of the service sector (as a percentage of GDP), as well as the urbanization of the population. This ultimately leads to an increase in the consumption of not only liquid hydrocarbons but also natural gas, particularly in transport and the electric power sector. While some Asia-Pacific countries have reached or are already approaching their peak in liquid hydrocarbon demand (with the exception of low-income countries such as India), the peak in gas demand will occur in the 2040s and 2050s. Given the shortage of natural gas to meet the needs of their domestic markets, Asia-Pacific countries are interested in increasing gas supplies from Russia. Moreover, the main demand will be concentrated not only in China and India, but also in ASEAN countries. This article examines Russia's cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region in the supply of both pipeline gas and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The most promising way to increase exports in the long term may be through increased LNG supplies, particularly to ASEAN countries. However, to increase exports of this type of gas, Russia needs to address a key issue: the construction of tankers under the Russian flag.

Keywords:

Gas Industry Foreign Economic Activity Asia LNG Pipeline Gas

References

  1. Sechin, I.I. The global oil market and Russia’s energy strategy under sanctions. Vestn. Inst. Econ. Russ. Acad. Sci. 2026, 1, 133–155.
  2. Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy 2025. Energy Institute: London, UK, 2025. Available online: https://www.energyinst.org/statistical-review/home
  3. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Population. Available online: https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/population.html (accessed on 6 April 2026).
  4. IHS Markit. Eurasian Oil Export Outlook. IHS Markit: London, UK, 2021.
  5. Kondratov, D. Prospects for Russian gas in China. Far East. Stud. 2023, 4, 46–72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31857/S013128120027172-0 (in Russian)
  6. Kondratov, D. China’s natural gas market and Russian export outlook. Vestn. Russ. Acad. Sci. 2023, 93, 1057–1070.
  7. Evans, C. North American LNG Exports Surge in 2025. Sultan, M., Ed.; Energy Intelligence: New York, NY, USA, 2026. Available online: https://www.energyintel.com/0000019b-7fc6-dca1-a3ff-ffef85bd0000
  8. Sultan, M. Russia's Arctic LNG 2 Readies for Northern Sea Route Closure. Energy Intelligence: New York, NY, USA, 2025. Available online: https://www.energyintel.com/00000199-c38b-d804-add9-cbaf429b0000
  9. Pepper, T. Sanctions Delay Russia’s LNG Expansion Target. Energy Intelligence: New York, NY, USA, 2025. Available online: https://www.energyintel.com/0000019b-6e19-dca1-a3ff-ffbf58090000
  10. Junnola, J. UK Services Ban on Russian LNG Complicates Sakhalin-2 Shipments. Energy Intelligence: New York, NY, USA, 2025. Available online: https://www.energyintel.com/0000019a-a5d8-d9d2-a1be-f7ddad9a0000
  11. Kelly, A. Russia's Yamal LNG Exports Down 7% in 2025. Energy Intelligence: New York, NY, USA, 2026. Available online: https://www.energyintel.com/0000019c-04b5-d7ea-a39e-5ffddf380000
  12. Ulrich, J. China-Russia Relations: A Quantum Leap? European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): Brussels, Belgium, 2022. Available online: https://coilink.org/20.500.12592/x47qg7
  13. Ostrovskii, A.V. The PRC economy: New horizons of its development till 2025. Her. Russ. Acad. Sci. 2024, 2, 73–85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31857/S0131281224020062 (in Russian)
  14. Kondratov, D. Evolution of the Russian gas industry and prospects for its development. Available online: https://neftegas.info/articles/article/987 (in Russian)
  15. Bloomberg. India Grabs Russian Oil Before Waiver Expiry as Market Tightens. Available online: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-25/apple-raises-mac-and-ipad-prices-to-counter-memory-shortages.
  16. Kelly, D. Russian Crude Exports Jump in December, Remain Stable in 2025. Energy Intelligence: New York, NY, USA, 2026. Available online: https://www.energyintel.com/0000019b-c15a-dddd-a5df-dd7a486f0000
  17. Johnson, L. China Gas Demand Poised for Growth amid LNG Uncertainty. Energy Intelligence: New York, NY, USA, 2025. Available online: https://www.energyintel.com/00000197-2ea6-d30d-a79f-aea7f2f20000
  18. Ritchie, M. Russian Piped Gas Remains Cheapest in China. Energy Intelligence: New York, NY, USA, 2026. Available online: https://www.energyintel.com/0000019b-e014-d184-a3fb-ecb6aad20000
  19. Kondratov, D. The prospects for Russian gas exports. Obshchest. Ekon. 2026, 1–2, 207–228.
  20. International Gas Union (IGU). 2024 World LNG Report. International Gas Union (IGU): London, UK, 2024. Available online: https://www.igu.org/igu-reports/2024-world-lng-report
  21. The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan. 451st Forum on Research Works on 17th Oct. 2025 “IEEJ Outlook 2026—Deepening Uncertainties Surrounding the Challenges of Energy Transition: A Widening Gap Between the Ideal and the Reality”—World Energy Outlook to 2050. Available online: https://eneken.ieej.or.jp/en/whatsnew/451.html (accessed on 6 April 2026).
  22. Wood Mackenzie. LNG Short-Term Outlook. Wood Mackenzie: Edinburgh, UK, 2025.
  23. Page, L. Natural gas and LNG: Top 5 market drivers for 2026. Available online: https://www.kpler.com/blog/natural-gas-and-lng-top-5-market-drivers-for-2026 (accessed on 6 April 2026).
  24. Sechin, I.I. Zvezda shipyard project: Global implications and its influence on the Russian economy. MGIMO Rev. Int. Relat. 2024, 17, 7–30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24833/2071-8160-2024-2-95-7-30 (in Russian)
  25. Henderson, J.; Moe, A. The Outlook for Russian LNG. Fridtjof Nansen Institute: Lysaker, Norway, 2025. Available online: https://www.fni.no/publications/the-outlook-for-russian-lng#tile-2741