Record energy demand

Rapid growth in demand for all forms of energy dominated world energy markets in 2004, leading to rising prices. While growth in demand from China in particular was exceptional, the strength of demand growth was a global phenomenon, increasing above the 10-year trend in every region of the world.

"The world's overall energy consumption grew by 4.3 per cent in 2004. In volume terms, this is the largest-ever annual increase in global primary energy consumption and is the highest percentage growth since 1984. It is exceptional that this demand growth was so geographically widespread," said Peter Davies, BP's chief economist, speaking today at the launch of the BP Statistical

Review of World Energy 2005. Published annually by BP, the Review contains data series on production and consumption of energy worldwide, up to the end of 2004.

While China's economy grew 9.5 per cent in 2004, this was outstripped by the rise in Chinese energy demand, which was up 15.1 per cent over the year. Over the past three years Chinese energy demand has risen by 65 per cent, accounting for over half the increase in global demand over the period. China now consumes 13.6 per cent of the world's total energy.