The EU now mandates that storage must be 90% full by 1 November each year
Europe’s appetite for LNG to ease
Ample stocks and a soft demand outlook will limit how much LNG Europe can import this year
Europe’s role in the global LNG markets appears to be shifting once again. The energy crises of recent years saw the bloc become the premium marginal purchaser of LNG, as Europe desperately sought to break its energy dependence on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. But two consecutive mild winters, high storage levels and a muted economic outlook mean European LNG demand looks relatively weak this summer and might be poised to decline as the region continues with its aggressive buildout of renewables and adoption of energy-saving measures in the coming years. Europe is poised to enter the summer months with record gas inventories for this time of year. Data from storage operator assoc
Also in this section
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
24 April 2026
The European Commission’s response to the Middle East crisis is to double down on its transition strategy, with plans for a new target on electrification
24 April 2026
A major new discovery by Eni and BP that can likely be fast-tracked to production is welcome news for Egypt as it scrambles to plug a widening supply gap and deal with rising import risks
24 April 2026
Countries in the region are turning to the cleaner-burning fuel for power generation, driving demand for imports
