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Stuart Broadley, CEO of the EIC. (Image source: EIC)

The Middle East is powering ahead of global energy markets and is a magnet for international businesses, thanks to its pragmatic energy investment approach and enthusiastic tech adoption, according to the Energy Industries Council’s (EIC) latest Survive & Thrive report

90% of energy companies operating in the region reported growth in 2024, according to the EIC report, the highest across all regions surveyed, with further growth forecast in 2025. The Middle East recorded the highest average company growth rate at 68%, compared with 20% growth reported by firms in the Americas, followed by the UK and Ireland at 16%, Continental Europe at 13%, and Asia Pacific lagging behind at 8%.

Businesses are flocking to the region, which is increasingly seen as a high-performance zone for energy, buoyed by consistent government support, low business costs, booming project activity and policies that actively reward private sector growth. As the report notes, supply chains are mobile, and companies are increasingly relocating operations and skilled personnel to regions offering policy stability and better returns, the Middle East being the big winner here.

At a time when much of the world is grappling with policy uncertainty, inflation, and talent shortages, the Middle East appears to be charting its own, far more confident course, according to the EIC, the world's leading trade association for companies providing products and services to the energy industry.

“The Middle East isn’t picking winners, it’s investing in all energy technologies,” said Stuart Broadley, CEO of the EIC. "That pragmatism is why it's now the global magnet for talent and capital. This is indeed the right approach to follow for energy security, industry growth, and supporting the energy transition."

While hydrocarbons remain vital, with more than 90% of EIC member companies in the region still focusing on oil and gas, the growth of investment into renewables, hydrogen, and digital infrastructure reveals a willingness to embrace what’s next, without abandoning what works now.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia, in particular, have made aggressive moves not just in oil and gas, but in AI-driven logistics, smart infrastructure, and clean technology.

“Encouraging tech adoption in logistics — like GPS tracking, automation, and AI — would increase efficiency, transparency, and global competitiveness,” said one executive interviewed for the Survive & Thrive report, echoing a broader sentiment that the region is now outpacing even the US and Europe in practical tech adoption.

However, there are challenges. Over 27% of companies flagged local content schemes as a critical issue. While national in-country value (ICV) programmes are designed to boost
domestic participation, the fragmentation across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries often complicates compliance for multinationals operating regionally. Harmonisation across the GCC could reduce duplication and unlock even greater regional synergies.

Labour localisation is another problematic area, the report shows, with more guidance needed to support the private sector in attracting and retaining local talent.

There is also rising pressure on infrastructure, with around 18% of executives called for smarter logistics parks, dedicated freight corridors, and improved trade infrastructure.

Despite these obstacles, business confidence remains high.

“For many international firms, the equation is simple: go where the work is, and the Middle East has it in abundance,” the EIC says.

The report features 139 success stories and insights from 138 EIC member companies and underscores the need for all regions to learn the lessons of the Middle East. 

To view the full report, please visit the following link: https://www.the-eic.com/MediaCentre/Publications/SurviveandThrive

Oil and gas expansion is one of the factors driving the compressor market.

The compressor market is set to grow significantly, fuelled by industrial expansion, energy efficiency, technological advancements and sustainability initiatives

According to a new report from Future Market Insights, the global industrial air compressor market size is projected to grow from US$3.6bn in 2025 to US$ 7.7bn by 2035, registering a CAGR of 7.9%.

In the oil and gas sector, a substantial increase in investments for brownfield and greenfield projects, coupled with planned cross-country pipeline projects, is expected to create positive prospects for growth in demand over the coming years, the report says. In the Middle East and Africa, the expansion of oil and gas, mining, and infrastructure projects is creating new market opportunities.

"The industrial air compressor market is undergoing a transformation, driven by energy efficiency, automation, and sustainability goals. As industries focus on reducing their operational carbon footprint, the shift towards oil-free and variable- speed compressors will define the future of this sector. The expansion of manufacturing activities worldwide, coupled with government incentives for energy- efficient equipment, will ensure steady growth over the next decade," said Nikhil Kaitwade, associate vice president at Future Market Insights (FMI).

New compressor products and services illustrate some of the above highlighted trends. Ingersoll Rand for example has introduced Ecoplant, an advanced compressor controls platform which adjusts compressed air systems dynamically in response to real- time demand changes, using continuous monitoring. This helps to reduce energy costs and the associated carbon emissions through optimised efficiency, as well as to identify any maintenance concerns that need addressing.

Meanwhile AERZEN, which offers advanced solutions for the most demanding applications, has launched two new series: double-stage, oil-free screw compressors (DS series) and single-stage, oil-injected air compressors with permanent magnet motors (SI series). The DS series compressors can provide energy savings of up to 12% compared with the best-performing compressor models currently available in the market.

Burckhardt Compression has launched UP! Detect – an advanced condition monitoring system that offers cost-effective early failure detection. It uses advanced AI algorithms to detect anomalies in the data that warn maintenance personnel on-site of potential issues in the compressor’s components as well as offering actionable suggestions and recommendations. Its new module ‘Predictive Intelligence’ for PROGNOST NT supports operators of reciprocating compressors by reliably predicting the remaining useful lifetime of key components of their assets and the best time for routine maintenance. AI-based predictive algorithms and real- time data are used to maximise equipment availability and reduce Total Cost of Ownership.

See the latest issue of OIl Review Middle East to find out more: https://oilreviewmiddleeast.com/magazines/orme_2025_06_13/spread/?page=14

The agreement is for the supply of 0.7mn tonnes of LNG.

ADNOC Gas has entered into a US$400mn three-year LNG supply agreement with Germany’s SEFE Securing Energy for Europe, as it continues to expand its global business

The agreement is for the delivery of 0.7mn tonnes of LNG, which will be supplied from ADNOC Gas’ Das Island 6 mtpa liquefaction facility. It builds on the ongoing collaboration between the UAE and Germany, including the 2022 Energy Security and Industry Accelerator (ESIA) pact and the 2024 Joint Declaration with the state of Baden-Württemberg, both aimed at fostering energy security and sustainable fuel development.

Fatema Al Nuaimi, chief executive officer of ADNOC Gas, said: “This agreement marks a significant step in strengthening our long-standing partnership with SEFE and reinforces ADNOC Gas’ role as a reliable and responsible global energy provider, committed to supporting Germany’s energy security.”

Frédéric Barnaud, chief commercial officer of SEFE, said: “Over the past two decades, we’ve built a strong partnership with ADNOC, and we value our relationship with such a reputable and reliable supplier. This new medium-term LNG contract builds on the long-term supply agreement with ADNOC that we signed last year, thereby adding another flexible source of LNG to our portfolio – to the benefit of both Europe’s security of supply and our global market trading activities.”

As a lower-carbon energy source, LNG plays a critical role as a transition fuel. ADNOC has ambitions to significantly grow its LNG capacity and strengthen its position as a global LNG player, shipping LNG to a growing range of international markets in Asia, Europe and beyond.

Global oil demand is forecast to reach 123mn bpd by 2050.

Global oil demand is set for continued robust growth to 2050, reaching almost 123 mn bpd by then, according to OPEC’s newly-launched 2025 World Oil Outlook (WOO)

OPEC forecasts that the world will require more energy in the decades to come, with global energy demand set to expand by 23% to 2050. This will be driven almost entirely from developing regions, led by India, Other Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Energy will need to be available in a “secure, stable and realistic manner” according to OPEC Secretary General, HE Haitham Al Ghais. Energy demand is set to rise from 308mn  barrels of oil equivalent (mboe/d) in 2024 to 378 mboe/d in 2050.

HE Al Ghais also highlighted that the world will continue to need all energies. “It is also a future in which we need to embrace all technologies, to drive innovation and efficiencies, and ensure that all peoples are taken into account, particularly given that it is the non-OECD developing world that will drive future energy growth”.

The report notes that energy policies across major economies are undergoing a significant recalibration, with a noticeable trend of policy pushback and intensified scrutiny, primarily in the US and in a number of other developed countries. Decision-makers are increasingly challenged to address a variety of priorities, including energy security, energy affordability, reducing emissions, sustainability and industrial competitiveness.

Oil is set to maintain the largest share in the energy mix in 2050, at just below 30%, according to the report. The combined share of oil and gas is expected to account for more than 50% between 2024 and 2050.

Supported by recent policy shifts and an improved economic outlook, global oil demand is set for continued robust growth of 9.6mn bpd over the medium-term period, rising from 103.7 mn bpd in 2024 to 113.3 mn bpd by 2030, with non-OECD countries leading this demand. In the long term, global oil demand is projected to rise by more than 19 mn bpd between 2024 and 2050, reaching almost 123 mn bpd.  India, Other Asia, the Middle East and Africa are set to be the primary sources of long-term oil demand growth.

In terms of demand by sector, the transportation sector accounted for more than 57% of global oil demand in 2024 and is projected to retain this share over the entire forecast period, with growth driven by road transportation and aviation. A significant demand increase is also projected in the petrochemical sector.

Middle East crude and condensate exports are likely to increase to all major importing regions, with more than 80% of Middle Eastern exports set to be shipped to the Asia-Pacific.

The report highlights the need for continued investment to satisfy rising demand, as well as to offset natural decline in mature fields, estimating that global cumulative investments of US$18.2 trillion are required over the 2025–2050 period, mainly for the upstream sector. “The challenge of meeting these investment requirements is huge, and any shortfall in meeting these needs could impact market stability and energy security,” the report cautions.

The LNG carrier market has come under sustained pressure.

New US tariffs and escalating global trade tensions have impacted vessel markets in the first half of 2025, depressing investment in some sectors while accelerating strategic orders in others, according to a report by Veson Nautical, a leading provider of maritime freight management solutions and data intelligence

Tanker slowdown

The tanker sector saw a marked slowdown, with newbuilding orders down 74% y-o-y and S&P volumes falling by 31%. Softer earnings and regulatory uncertainty were key drivers. Medium Range 2 (MR2) product tankers bucked the trend, accounting for over a third of transactions as buyers capitalised on lower values. Usually sized between 45,000 and 55,000 DWT, MR2s are product tankers that typically ship gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other refined products across regional and intercontinental routes. Values for 15-year-old units fell by 24%, drawing renewed interest in ageing but versatile tonnage.

Pressure on the LNG carrier sector

The LNG carrier sector came under sustained pressure during the first six months of 2025, with average time charter earnings for large vessels falling by 66% y-o-y. The decline was driven by continued fleet expansion outpacing demand growth, along with weaker seasonal fundamentals. As rates fell, demolition activity increased sharply, with seven vessels scrapped—a 250% rise on the same period in 2024. Older steam turbine vessels saw the steepest value declines, with 15-year-old units down by more than 8%. While demand for LNG is expected to rise in the coming years, the current tonnage surplus is likely to keep pressure on earnings through the rest of 2025.

Tariff uncertainty hits the LPG carrier sector

In the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) carrier market, S&P activity slowed by 25% y-o-y, weighed down by trade policy uncertainty between the US and China. Newbuilding orders dropped by 80% compared with the same period last year. Most activity was concentrated at the very large and small ends of the fleet, with limited momentum in the midsize space. Values fell across the board, though long-term averages remain high by historical standards.

“Geopolitical pressure is no longer a background factor; it’s shaping the way owners think about risk, timing and capital,” said Matt Freeman, chief market analyst at Veson Nautical. “From regulation to rerouting, disruption is now part of the operating environment, and owners are recalibrating their strategies accordingly.”

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