The European Union’s (EU) natural gas imports from Russia saw a massive 71% drop in the year 2021 when 150 billion cubic meters (bcm) were imported to 43 bcm last year.
The EU’s natural gas imports amounted to around 290 billion cubic meters (bcm) last year, although consumption fell to 330 bcm from 413 bcm in 2021, according to data compiled from the report published by the European Commission for the last quarter of 2023.
The collective opposition to Moscow due to the Russia-Ukraine war and above-normal seasonal temperatures influenced the decline in the EU’s gas consumption.
According to the report, the EU consumed 330 bcm of natural gas last year, down from 413 bcm in 2021 and 356 bcm in 2022.
Gas consumption in almost all member states fell from as low as 7% to as high as 37% compared to two years ago.
Due to ongoing maintenance, the EU’s natural gas production fell from 51 bcm in 2021 and 47 bcm in 2022 to 38 bcm last year. This production covered 11% of total domestic consumption.
The number one EU-producing country was the Netherlands with 12 bcm, followed by Romania with 9.3 bcm.
Last year, the average natural gas storage occupancy rate was recorded at 79%, marking a significant increase compared to 61% in 2022 and 49% in 2021.
The EU’s gas imports amounted to 336 bcm in 2021, 335 bcm in 2022, and 290 bcm last year.
Of the EU’s total gas imports last year, Norway accounted for 30%, the US for 19%, Russia for 15%, North Africa for 14%, the UK for 6%, Qatar for 5%, Azerbaijan for 4%, Nigeria for 3%, Trinidad and Tobago for 1%, and other LNG suppliers for the remaining 3% share.
The quantity of gas purchased from Norway amounted to 87.8 bcm, 56.3 bcm from the US, 42.9 bcm from Russia, and 41 bcm from North Africa. The quantity of natural gas purchased from The amount of natural gas purchased from Russia amounted to 78.8 bcm last year, down from 150.2 bcm in 2021, yet with a substantial 45% global share of the market.
– Azerbaijan’s share of market on the rise
Because of the EU’s search for alternative sources to Russian gas, Azerbaijani natural gas and LNG triumped. This was seen in increased gas quantities since 2021, when EU countries purchased 8 bcm of gas from Azerbaijan, up to 11 bcm last year.
Azerbaijan’s share in the EU natural gas import basket increased from 3% to 7%.
The report revealed that the UK delivered 17 bcm of natural gas to the EU last year, accounting for 10% of imports.
‘The UK continued to be a balancing supplier, exporting large volumes to the EU at the most critical time of the shift away from Russian gas,’ the report read.
The EU imported 68 bcm of LNG in 2021, and this rose to 121 bcm last year.
With a 22% share and 27 bcm of gas imported in 2023, France was the biggest LNG importer. Spain, with an 18% share and 23 bcm followed. The Netherlands ranked third with a 17% share and 21 bcm. On the supply side, the largest LNG exporter to the EU was the US, with a 46% share supplying 56 bcm, followed by Russia, with a 15% stake delivering 18 bcm, and Qatar, with a 13% share supplying 16 bcm.
In this context, Türkiye is actively buying Azerbaijani gas to fulfill its objective of becoming a ‘natural gas hub’ in the region, while Germany and many other member states are concentrating on LNG imports.
