LNG imports to the EU fall for a fourth consecutive month, down nearly 40% from peak

Imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) into Europe are visibly weakening after a strong start to the year. Data show four consecutive months of decline, with import volumes down by nearly two-fifths from their March peak. The trend comes amid restricted supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, slow storage filling and ahead of the gradual EU ban on Russian LNG.

According to available data, European LNG imports reached 142,1 TWh in March, before falling to 130,4 TWh in April, 120,4 TWh in May, 105 TWh in June and 87,1 TWh in July. This represents a decline of nearly 40% between March and July. The July figure is also one-third lower than the 131,5 TWh recorded in January.

Tensions in the LNG market are affecting liquefied gas imports into Europe

The decline in imports cannot be explained by normal seasonality in the European market alone. As the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES) noted, LNG exports from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have virtually come to a halt following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Together, these producers accounted for around 19,5% of global LNG trade in 2025. Qatar alone exported approximately 106 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas in 2025, while the United Arab Emirates exported a further 6,5 bcm.