Europe has seen its highest ever imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) during the summer season this year. According to TASS calculations based on Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) data, supplies for the April-October 2025 period exceeded 76.5 billion cubic meters. This breaks the previous record set in 2023 (76.3 bcm) and confirms that the continent will continue to rely heavily on flexible LNG import flows this year.

At the same time, GIE's data shows that since the beginning of the year, LNG inflows into the European gas system have remained at record levels, with the total amount of regassified gas already surpassing approximately 110 billion m³. These volumes are partly offsetting the decline in traditional pipeline supplies and the growing demand for gas in the industrial and power sectors.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), European LNG imports reached an all-time high in the first half of 2025 and all indications are that record levels will be maintained until the end of the year. The IEA attributes this development to a combination of lower pipeline supplies from Russia, increased need for storage refills and higher LNG availability due to expanded export capacity in the US and Qatar.

As Reuters reported, the current situation has a twofold impact. On the one hand, the flexibility of LNG has helped Europe to make up for pipeline supply shortfalls and meet increased demand, but on the other hand, the growing dependence on imports is making European markets more sensitive to global price fluctuations. According to Reuters, analysts warn that in the event of an extremely cold winter and low stocks, the pressure on the market could lead to a sharp rise in prices.

Gazprom CEO also warns of possible complications Alexej Millerwho, according to the TASS news agency, said that long-term meteorological models indicate the arrival of an "abnormally cold" winter in Europe and the European part of Russia, with temperatures of up to around -25 °C. Such a situation, he said, could significantly increase peak gas demand and put a strain on the distribution network.

This year's record summer imports of LNG into Europe therefore confirm that this type of fuel remains a key hedge against pipeline supply shortfalls. But they also underline the need to strengthen the continent's energy resilience - increasing storage capacity, developing flexible transmission infrastructures and accelerating measures to reduce peak demand. This is the only way Europe can cope with a potential cold snap without dramatic impacts on prices and supply stability.

gnews.cz - GH