Global Hydrogen Review 2026 (IEA)

Summary

• Global hydrogen demand surpassed 100 million tonnes (Mt) in 2025, driven by traditional sectors.p.11
• Low-emissions hydrogen production grew by 20% in 2025 to almost 1 Mt.p.11
• Global installed electrolysis capacity doubled in 2025 to exceed 4 GW, with China behind nearly three-quarters of new installations.p.12
• There is 22 Mt of potential production in announced projects that may lose any chance to begin operation by 2030 without investment decisions by early 2027.p.12
• New offtake agreements were broadly unchanged in 2025 at around 1.7 Mt, with only around 20% backed by firm contractual commitments.p.13
• 2.5 Mt of low-emissions hydrogen (60% of global committed production) is expected to be consumed in refineries and industrial facilities by 2030.p.13

Key insights

1. The Middle East is home to around one-sixth of global hydrogen production.p.9
2. The Middle East makes up over one-quarter of global trade in ammonia, almost 40% of urea trade and almost 45% of methanol trade.p.9
3. Low-emissions hydrogen production is expected to exceed 1% of global production for the first time in 2026.p.11
4. Two-thirds of the potential production at risk is in Europe, North America and Latin America.p.12
5. For the first time, trade-oriented offtake agreements overtook domestic-use agreements in 2025.p.13
6. Existing and committed production is not sufficient to provide an immediate response to the current energy market situation.p.10