The Asia-Pacific offshore decommissioning market is steadily gaining importance within the wider global offshore decommissioning industry.
Although the region still lags behind North America and Europe in terms of total market value, it is expected to record strong growth over the coming years. This expansion is being driven by aging offshore oil and gas infrastructure, evolving regulatory frameworks, and rising environmental concerns, all of which are pushing operators and governments to prioritise end of life asset management.
Market research indicates that the APAC offshore decommissioning market in 2024 was valued at around US$1.5bn, with expectations that it will grow to more than US$3.5bn by 2035 at a CAGR approaching 7.8 % from 2025 to 2035. Major offshore producing nations including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia are playing a central role in this expansion. According to GM Insights, the Asia-Pacific market alone is forecast to grow at a CAGR of over 6 % through 2034, supported by the ageing of offshore assets and stronger regulatory oversight.
China currently holds the largest share of the regional market, supported by strict environmental standards and a significant number of ageing offshore installations. India is also emerging as a strong growth market, driven by supportive policies and shifts in national energy strategies. Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea are placing greater emphasis on advanced technologies and safety focused decommissioning methods, while countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia continue to develop their decommissioning capabilities as offshore fields mature.
Technological progress including robotics and remotely operated vessels, along with closer collaboration between stakeholders, is helping to reduce costs and address logistical challenges. Despite hurdles such as high execution costs and regulatory complexity, increasing environmental scrutiny and scheduled asset retirements position the APAC offshore decommissioning sector as a key growth area through 2035, creating long term opportunities for service providers and technology innovators.
