Germany leads European natural gas imports with a share of 20.71%, followed by Italy (15.54%) and France (12.3%). The United Kingdom (10.95%) and Spain (8.59%) also contribute significantly. Smaller importers include Portugal (1.32%), with Ireland (0.86%), Bulgaria (0.67%), and others contributing less. Germany's imports grew by 3.08% year-on-year in 2023, while Denmark showed the highest increase at 45.08%. Notable growth was also observed in Ireland (14.3%) and Macedonia (14.78%). Romania marked a substantial rise of 9.23%, with Croatia close behind at 8.01%. Conversely, Ukraine experienced a significant drop of 27.17%, and Latvia saw a decrease of 1.35%.
Looking forward, key trends to watch in European natural gas imports include:
- Shift towards renewable energy sources potentially reducing dependency on natural gas imports.
- Geopolitical factors such as the stability of supply routes from major exporters.
- Economic reforms and infrastructure investments impacting import capacities and efficiencies.
- Environmental policies influencing future import volumes and diversification of energy sources.
Top countries in Natural Gas Imports Share by Country (Thousand Tonnes Of Oil Equivalent)
| # | 10 Countries | Percent | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Germany | 20.71 | 2023 | +2.61% | +3.08% | View data |
| 2 | 2 Italy | 15.54 | 2023 | +1.58% | +2.07% | View data |
| 3 | 3 France | 12.3 | 2023 | +4.57% | +3.13% | View data |
| 4 | 4 United Kingdom | 10.95 | 2023 | +1.67% | +1.64% | View data |
| 5 | 5 Spain | 8.59 | 2023 | +5.19% | +2.36% | View data |
| 6 | 6 Netherlands | 6.29 | 2023 | +1.67% | +2.15% | View data |
| 7 | 7 Belgium | 4.68 | 2023 | +2.19% | +2.64% | View data |
| 8 | 8 Poland | 4.09 | 2023 | +2.98% | +4.4% | View data |
| 9 | 9 Hungary | 2.38 | 2023 | +9.63% | +7.89% | View data |
| 10 | 10 Czech Republic | 1.97 | 2023 | +7.98% | +3.41% | View data |
