Assogasliquidi-Federchimica today presented the report "The LNG market in 2025: state of the art and prospects for development", carried out by BIP on behalf of the association, which highlights a stabilisation of the Italian market, which in 2025 recorded an overall consumption of liquefied natural gas that reached about 231 thousand tons (+11% compared to 2024), with the automotive segment in adjustment, the industrial segment in growth and with a naval sector that has been characterized by from the start of the first bunkering operations at the end of the year. 'The BIP data - explained the president of Assogasliquidi, Matteo Cimenti - show a stabilization of consumption, although significant growth in the industrial sector and excellent prospects in the naval sector. The road transport sector on the other hand, it is stable on the consumption of the previous year but with a Slowed growth trend, despite development prospects of absolute importance".

In detail, in 2025 the automotive sector continued to be the largest LNG market, with approximately 75% of total consumption, but has slowed down growth (+3%) linked to fleet renewal dynamics and End of life of existing vehicles. During 2025, the registrations of LNG industrial vehicles stood at 326 units, signaling a limited and insufficient recovery to support structural demand. The industrial sector has instead, an expansive trajectory was confirmed, with consumption equal to about 50 thousand tons, an increasing share of the total (about 22%). The report highlights that 2025 marked the start of the first ship-to-ship bunkering operations, with the still in its early stages but with high potential growth. On the infrastructure front, three ships are operational bunker, with a fourth scheduled for 2026. In addition, it is in growth of the LNG fleet in Italian seas and, worldwide, in 2025, LNG-powered ships reached 894 units, with prospects of exceeding 1,600 by 2030.

The report identifies the maritime sector as the main driver of future demand, potentially able to go from less than 6 thousand tons in 2025 to 190 thousand in 2028 in the scenario more favorable.

Dwelling on the prospects offered by the maritime sector, the president of the LNG Group of Federchimica-Assogasliquidi, Costantino Amadei, highlighted "how Italy, thanks to its geographical position and the centrality of its ports, has all the potential to become a strategic hub for alternative fuels in the Mediterranean. To achieve this objective - he pointed out - it is necessary to facilitate the LNG marine bunkering operations, simplifying and speeding up authorization and operational procedures. It is therefore It is essential to give full and uniform implementation, in all ports national guidelines, the guidelines released in May 2025 by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, by the General Command of the Port Authorities and the National Fire Brigade. Clear, homogeneous and consistently applied rules - underlined Amadei - represent a decisive factor for increase the attractiveness of our airports and accompany the expected growth in the naval sector".

Referring then to bio-LNG, Amadei noted that "today the market needs a clear regulatory and certification framework, stable and consistent. It is indispensable - he explained - harmonize traceability and certification tools - from Guarantees of Origin to Proofs of Sustainability and Chain of custody certification - overcoming uncertainties which still hinder the development of the sector. Only through certain rules, it will be possible to fully exploit the contribution of bio-LNG to the decarbonisation not only of transport, but also of numerous high-speed industrial sectors energy intensity. In this perspective, particular attention must be paid to the implementation phase of the Legislative Decree 5/2026 transposing RED III".

Amadei also focused on the use of resources generated by the EU ETS and FuelEU systems. "These tools - said - represent an important lever to accompany the energy transition and must be used to support concretely the decarbonization of the sectors concerned. Allocating these resources to infrastructure investments, innovation and promotion of lower intensity fuels carbon dioxide - such as LNG and, even more so, bio-LNG - is A winning path to accelerate the achievement of objectives climatic conditions, with particular benefit for the naval sector, road transport and industrial transport".