European LNG imports plunge to 23-month low despite heatwave demand

LNG flows into the EU transmission system fell 26% year-on-year in July, underscoring a structural shift away from Russian pipeline gas and tightening supply buffers ahead of winter.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-07-21 14:56 UTC · 1 min read

Daily liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports into Europe have fallen to their lowest level in nearly two years, according to data cited by TASS.

The decline marks a significant contraction in supply flows during a period when demand for cooling and power generation is typically elevated due to summer heatwaves.

The report indicates that LNG flows from European terminals into the EU gas transmission system dropped by 26% year-on-year since the beginning of July.

The report indicates that LNG flows from European terminals into the EU gas transmission system dropped by 26% year-on-year since the beginning of July.

This sharp reduction occurred despite the urgent need for utilities to replenish depleted underground storage facilities, highlighting a persistent gap between supply availability and infrastructure requirements.

This development extends a downward trend in European gas imports observed earlier in the month.

Previous data showed daily LNG imports hitting a 20-month low on July 2, while June monthly volumes fell to approximately 10.1 billion cubic meters, the lowest in ten months.