Gas
European LNG imports drop 13 percent in third quarter
Europe experienced a decline in liquefied natural gas imports during the third quarter of 2026, driven by Asian competition and supply constraints.
Key points
- European LNG imports fell to 21.52 million metric tons in Q3 2026.
- The Netherlands, France, and Italy accounted for over 51 percent of total imports.
- Supply restrictions were linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis and Qatari force majeure.
What happened
Europe's liquefied natural gas imports decreased by 13 percent year-on-year to 21.52 million metric tons during the third quarter of 2026, down from 24.73 million metric tons in the same period of 2025, according to a report by Attaqa's energy research unit cited by Egypt Oil & Gas.
Over the first nine months of 2026, imports declined by 3 percent to 87.37 million metric tons. Monthly volumes showed a gradual recovery within the third quarter, moving from 6.17 million metric tons in July to 7.54 million metric tons in August and 7.80 million metric tons in September.
The Netherlands remained the continent's largest importer despite a 16 percent decline to 3.82 million metric tons. France followed with 3.63 million metric tons, and Italy recorded 3.62 million metric tons.
Why it matters
Attaqa's research unit attributed the contraction to heightened competition with Asian buyers for spot cargoes and reduced supplies from Qatar due to the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Extended force majeure notices from Qatar affected both Asian and European markets through November, while the United States expanded its supply share to nearly two-thirds of European imports.
Europe entered the winter heating season with gas storage facilities filled to approximately 73 percent capacity as of October 7, which is below historical averages. The European Commission noted that regional infrastructure has the capacity to absorb higher volumes of imported gas to offset lower storage levels, though winter demand and global availability remain critical variables.
What comes next
Market conditions will depend heavily on winter weather patterns and global supply availability. Meanwhile, global energy markers reflect broader commodity pricing trends, with the Henry Hub natural gas spot price standing at 3.22 US dollars per MMBtu on October 14, according to US EIA data.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
21.9% of electricity in the world came from gas in 2024Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
