Gas injections into European underground storage facilities have slowed to their weakest pace for July in six years, driven by a combination of extreme heat and constrained supply flows.
The current fill rate marks a significant deviation from historical norms for the month, raising concerns about the region's ability to build adequate reserves before the heating season begins.
49%, a figure that reflects the cumulative impact of reduced inflows over recent weeks.
European storage levels currently stand at 52.49%, a figure that reflects the cumulative impact of reduced inflows over recent weeks.
This level remains below the five-year average for this time of year, underscoring the structural tightness in the market.
The slowdown in injections coincides with a period of elevated demand for cooling, which has diverted gas away from storage and toward power generation, further straining available volumes.
The data follows a trend of sluggish fills throughout the summer, with injection rates dropping to their lowest level since mid-May at the start of July.