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
6 February 2026
The long close relationship between key supplier Qatar and pivotal buyer Japan becomes even deeper following new landmark deal
6 February 2026
Partnerships across the LNG value chain have evolved over time, growing in both complexity and importance, according to panellists at LNG2026
6 February 2026
Nigeria's mega-refinery is still trying to solve many challenges, all while its owner talks up expansion
5 February 2026
While broadly supportive of EU efforts to tackle methane emissions, representatives of the gas industry warn it could deter supply contracting if timelines and compliance requirements are not made more pragmatic
