After years of prioritizing returning cash to shareholders, oil supermajors are about to do something few expected: turning to growth as a top priority. The reason: contrary to dominant expectations, oil and gas will continue to be needed for decades. For years, analysts from some of the most reputable organizations have been predicting a pending decline in oil demand specifically, but also gas demand. The predictions, notably from the International Energy Agency, were based on projections about a widespr ...

Core Insights - Natural gas is the only fossil fuel expected to see significant growth in global primary energy consumption due to its low-carbon transition attributes and flexible applications, particularly driven by rising demand in Asian markets [1] - The focus of Africa's natural gas industry is shifting from traditional hubs in North Africa, such as Egypt and Algeria, to sub-Saharan Africa, which holds over 70% of the continent's recoverable natural gas resources [1] - Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to see LNG export volumes surge from 35.7 billion cubic meters in 2024 to 98 billion cubic meters by 2034, representing an increase of nearly 175% [1] Industry Developments - The natural gas market in sub-Saharan Africa is taking shape, with Nigeria advancing its "Gas Decade" plan supported by over 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves and over $8 billion in final investment decisions for gas projects in the past 18 months [2] - Key infrastructure projects, such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, are progressing, and there is significant growth in demand for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) in transportation and industrial sectors [2] - Senegal and Mauritania are collaborating on a cross-border gas field with recoverable reserves exceeding 150 trillion cubic feet, aiming to produce and export LNG by 2025 with an initial capacity of 2.3 million tons per year [2] - Mozambique is emerging rapidly with over 150 trillion cubic feet of recoverable reserves, and TotalEnergies plans to restart a $20 billion LNG project, while the Rovuma LNG project is expected to have an annual capacity of 18 million tons [2] - Tanzania's natural gas reserves of 57 trillion cubic feet, mostly in deepwater fields, are being developed through a $42 billion LNG project led by Shell and Equinor, targeting an annual capacity of 10 million tons by 2029 [2] Market Dynamics - The maturation of the sub-Saharan LNG market is attributed to the synergy between resource endowment and market demand, along with policy optimization, technological innovation, and regional cooperation [3] - Despite challenges such as regional instability and weak infrastructure, the overall trend towards the establishment of the sub-Saharan African natural gas market is seen as unstoppable [3]

Core Viewpoint - The 8th World Textile Merchandising Conference 2025 focused on transforming international competitive pressures into collaborative opportunities within the global textile value chain, emphasizing integrated development and shared value creation among industry stakeholders [1][4]. Industry Developments - Shaoxing is enhancing its competitive edge by integrating industry, market, and technological innovation to create a modern textile ecosystem that encompasses raw material supply, manufacturing, trade, and services [2]. - The textile industry is urged to embrace technological innovation and optimize industrial layouts to enhance resilience in supply chains, aligning with the goals of the "15 Five-Year Plan" [6]. - The focus is on intelligent, green, and integrated transformation to drive high-quality development in the textile sector [6]. Innovation and Collaboration - China's textile industry is encouraged to adopt innovation-driven development, integrating technological advancements with industrial practices, and emphasizing digital-reality integration through initiatives like "AI+" [7]. - The conference highlighted the importance of international collaboration based on mutual respect, innovation, talent development, and open cooperation to address global challenges in the textile industry [12]. Key Initiatives and Launches - The conference saw the launch of several initiatives, including the "2026 World Textile Industry Trend Outlook," "Keqiao Selected" brand promotion, and the upgraded "AI Fabric 2.0" model, aimed at fostering collaborative innovation in the global textile industry [14]. - The "Cloud-Linked Global Fabric" project and the Digital New Silk Road initiative were also introduced to enhance international trade and collaboration [14]. Regional Focus - Keqiao is positioning itself as a world-class industrial base by driving value transformation through industrial, technological, and market innovations, contributing to the reshaping of the global textile value chain [9].