Europe’s LNG imports are likely to surge by 25% in 2025 — IEA

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports into Europe are expected to rise by 25% this year as the continent seeks to offset falling pipeline supplies, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported. The agency also noted that demand in the region could get bigger on adverse weather conditions.

The IEA's quarterly report on the gas market forecasts a 25% uptick in fuel purchases by the European Union in 2025, which is equivalent to 33 billion cubic meters. This surge in imports is primarily due to reduced energy supplies from Russia, heightened domestic consumption, and the urgent need to replenish European storage facilities.

Over 9 billion cubic meters of LNG were bought by the EU during the first quarter of this year, a 23% increase over the previous one. In contrast, 2024 recorded a reduction of nearly 30 billion cubic meters, reflecting the rapidly changing environment of the global gas industry.

As winter concluded, the European Union's storage facilities held only 35 billion cubic meters of natural gas, which is 34% of their total capacity. The region's target is now to reach 90%.