Market share of large energy companies in EU electricity and gas markets is falling

The market share of the largest European electricity and natural gas producers fell in many European Union countries in 2022, pointing to growing competition in energy markets compared with 2021. The European statistical office Eurostat reported.

The market share reported by Eurostat represents the share of electricity or natural gas supplied to a given system by its largest supplier. A high market share thus points to the existence of a monopoly or oligopoly.

According to Eurostat, the market share of the largest electricity producer fell in 16 EU countries in 2022. It remained unchanged in four countries and increased in four.

The largest electricity producer had the highest market shares in Cyprus (87.5 %), Croatia (73.6 %) and France (72.5 %).

At the other end of the scale, the dominant electricity producer had the lowest market shares in Lithuania (12 %), Poland (14.9 %) and Italy (18 %).

In the natural gas market, the market share of the largest natural gas producer or importer fell in 11 of the 22 EU countries monitored. The largest year-on-year decreases were recorded in Lithuania (-29.8 p.p.), Bulgaria (-14.5 p.p.) and France (-11.5 p.p.). In Slovakia and Croatia, by contrast, the share of the dominant gas producer or importer rose by 11 p.p. and 5.4 p.p., respectively.

"The highest market share, at 100 %, was recorded in Malta and Sweden, where the market is dominated by just one company in each country, followed by Poland with a 92% share," Eurostat said.

According to Eurostat, the markets with the lowest shares for the dominant natural gas producer or importer are Ireland (22 %), the Czech Republic (30 %) and Greece (30.5 %).