The 5 biggest gas companies powering the global energy market in 2025
Natural gas plays a critical role in today’s energy landscape. As countries work to reduce emissions while maintaining reliable supply, gas has emerged as a strategic bridge fuel. In 2025, the five biggest gas companies globally are shaping production trends, LNG markets, and energy policies across continents. These firms lead in scale, investment, and operational reach, with influence extending from the wellhead to end-use markets.
This listicle covers the top five gas companies by size, based on production volumes, reserve base, and international footprint. Each of these companies contributes significantly to the evolution of the natural gas industry.
1. Saudi Aramco
Saudi Aramco is widely recognized as the largest energy company in the world, primarily due to its vast oil reserves. However, its natural gas operations have grown significantly in recent years. The company has been investing heavily in expanding domestic gas production to reduce its internal reliance on oil for electricity generation and to unlock new revenue streams through natural gas liquids and potential LNG exports.
Saudi Aramco’s flagship unconventional gas project, Jafurah, is one of the largest of its kind. The field contains hundreds of trillions of cubic feet of gas and billions of barrels of condensate. Aramco has committed to building processing infrastructure to bring this gas to market and support industrial growth within the kingdom.
The company’s gas expansion supports its long-term strategy to diversify its energy offerings and meet increasing domestic and regional energy demands. Its scale, access to capital, and low production costs make it one of the most influential players in the global gas sector.
2. ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil is one of the largest publicly traded energy companies in the world and remains a dominant force in the global gas industry. Its natural gas portfolio spans conventional and unconventional resources, with significant operations in the United States, Africa, Asia, and South America.
ExxonMobil’s gas production has continued to grow through both organic development and strategic acquisitions. The company maintains an extensive base of natural gas reserves and consistently ranks among the top global producers. In the U.S., it is a leading player in the Permian Basin and has integrated shale gas operations into its wider LNG strategy.
ExxonMobil is also expanding its global LNG footprint. The company invests in both liquefaction projects and long-term LNG supply contracts, aligning its production capacity with growing demand in Asia and other emerging markets. Its balance of upstream assets, midstream infrastructure, and trading capabilities positions it as a resilient and adaptable leader in the gas sector.
3. Chevron
Chevron is a major player in the global natural gas market, with significant operations in LNG production and supply. Its portfolio includes some of the world’s largest LNG projects, particularly in Australia, where the Gorgon and Wheatstone facilities provide large volumes of gas to Asia-Pacific markets.
In addition to LNG, Chevron maintains a broad upstream gas portfolio with assets in North America, the Eastern Mediterranean, and West Africa. These operations contribute to a diversified and stable supply base, enabling the company to manage market fluctuations and demand cycles effectively.
Chevron’s integrated approach includes not only exploration and production but also investment in gas transportation and processing infrastructure. Its focus on operational efficiency and emissions reduction in LNG and gas processing has become a key part of its strategy. This positions the company to remain competitive in a world where natural gas is increasingly required to meet decarbonization targets.
4. Shell
Shell is one of the most vertically integrated gas companies in the world. Its natural gas operations include exploration, production, processing, distribution, and trading. The company is a global leader in LNG, both as a producer and as a trader, with supply routes spanning every major continent.
Shell’s gas operations are particularly strong in Europe and Asia. The company supplies significant volumes of natural gas to European countries through a combination of equity production, third-party contracts, and long-term infrastructure investments. It also operates and partners in major LNG facilities that serve high-growth markets.
Shell’s natural gas strategy is closely aligned with its energy transition goals. The company is investing in renewable gas options, including biomethane, and exploring low-carbon LNG solutions to reduce the lifecycle emissions of its products. Its diversified asset base and global reach provide it with the scale and flexibility to adapt to shifting energy demands.
5. BP
BP has steadily increased its presence in the global natural gas market, emphasizing LNG as a strategic growth area. The company has a substantial reserve base and produces gas across multiple continents, including North Africa, the Middle East, and the United States.
BP aims to expand its LNG portfolio to exceed 25 million tonnes per annum by the middle of the decade. Its long-term contracts and supply agreements reflect this ambition, as does its investment in new production regions such as Mauritania and Senegal. These frontier projects are designed to meet growing global demand and contribute to economic development in host countries.
In addition to upstream operations, BP is active in natural gas trading and infrastructure. It manages a broad network of pipelines and LNG shipping routes that support its integrated supply chain. The company is also balancing its fossil fuel operations with a transition strategy that includes decarbonizing its gas portfolio and investing in lower-carbon alternatives.
Strategic outlook for global gas leaders
The five biggest gas companies in the world (Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP) are shaping the future of natural gas across all stages of the value chain. From extraction and liquefaction to transport and trading, these companies possess the scale, technical expertise, and financial resources to lead in a highly competitive and strategically vital sector.
Natural gas continues to play a pivotal role in energy security, emissions reduction, and industrial development. As governments and companies alike seek stable and cleaner energy sources, these five firms will remain central to the global energy mix in 2025 and beyond.