This paper reviews the literatures on the kinetics of hydrate formation and decomposition from the point of view of microscopic and macroscopic kinetics. The emphasis is on the microscopic mechanism for hydrate formation and the macroscopic kinetics of hydrate crystal growth. For the microscopic kinetics of hydrate formation

three mechanisms and the relevant models are reviewed. For the macroscopic kinetics

the research at Bishnois laboratory in Canada and the work associated with CO2 hydrate disposal in Japan on the kinetics of CO2 hydrate formation are briefly described. For the hydrate decomposition

the kinetics under thermal stimulation

depressurization

and in the presence of inhibitors are discussed. Based on the current status of the hydrate kinetics research

the authors suggest eight important aspects for future hydrate kinetics research.