Acceleration in energy consumption in 2017 (+2.3% vs. 1.1% in 2016)

Global energy consumption was spurred by the rebound in China, the world’s largest energy consumer since 2009, triggered by the sustained economic growth. Chinese energy consumption rose twice as fast as in 2016, pulled-up by a strong industrial demand that has offset three years of low consumption, energy efficiency gains in the industry and national policies to decarbonize the economy.
Energy consumption grew in most of Asian countries, such as India (steady growth rate since 2000), Indonesia, Malaysia or South Korea. It increased for the first time since 2013 in Japan, driven by the economic growth.
Economic growth also raised energy consumption in Europe (e.g. in Germany, France, Italy and Turkey, whereas it dipped in the United Kingdom), in Canada, and in Russia (end of two-years of recession).
Energy consumption remained stable in the United States for the second year in a row, partly due to a lower electricity demand and energy efficiency improvements. It recovered from two years of contraction in Brazil but declined in Mexico and Argentina.