Black liquor is a by-product of the kraft process used to convert wood into paper pulp. It is a biofuel derived from organic, renewable biomass sources and represents a significant form of industrial energy.
In 2023, the United States led in black liquor energy content with 696.0 PJ, representing 38.9% of the global total. Sweden, Canada, Finland, and Japan followed with 185.1 PJ (10.4%), 157.9 PJ (8.8%), 142.5 PJ (8.0%), and 133.0 PJ (7.4%), respectively.
South Africa was the only African country with reported black liquor production in 2023, totaling 16.4 PJ (1% of the global share). The relatively low share highlights a significant gap in energy recovery from industrial by-products in Africa, especially in relation to the growing pulp and paper industry across the continent.
The United States dominates global natural gas production in 2024, contributing 1.03 trillion cubic metres (Tcm), nearly one-quarter of the world’s total.
Russia (0.63Tcm) and Iran (0.26Tcm) follow as the second and third largest producers.
China (0.25Tcm) and Canada (0.19Tcm) also feature strongly, rounding out the top five producers.
Collectively, these top five countries account for more than 50% of global production.
Emerging producers like Nigeria, Egypt, and Azerbaijan contribute significantly to the supply but remain far behind the leading nations.