Europe leads pack on LNG imports as global competition for fuel heats up

Europe was the most important buyer within the international liquefied pure fuel market in 2022, with the area importing considerably greater volumes than rival patrons because it seeks to switch dwindling Russian pipeline fuel provides.

In earlier years, the EU lagged behind Japan and China on LNG imports, however Russia’s weaponisation of power since its invasion of Ukraine has compelled the bloc to hunt various gas provides.

With Europe’s must import higher volumes to refill its storage services in 2023, the worldwide LNG market is set to remain tight, probably pushing up costs for fuel customers worldwide.

“When the value rises in Europe, Asia then has to [increase the amount it pays] accordingly, to have the ability to compete to draw LNG cargoes,” mentioned Olumide Ajayi, senior LNG analyst at Refinitiv. “Europe has grow to be the premium market.”

EU nations imported 101mn tonnes of LNG in 2022, 58 per cent greater than the earlier yr, information from Refinitiv present. The bloc accounted for twenty-four per cent of worldwide LNG imports through the interval.

Europe’s quest was aided by a discount in demand in China, mentioned Namit Sharma, international co-leader of oil and fuel at consultancy McKinsey. Beijing’s strict zero-Covid coverage led to a deceleration within the financial system and decreased demand for power in 2022. “Had China bought extra LNG, it might have been troublesome for Europe to really supply that fuel,” Sharma mentioned.

China’s LNG imports in 2022 totalled 64.5mn tonnes; in 2021 it was the most important importer globally with 79mn tonnes. The nation additionally re-exported some extra LNG to Europe this yr, serving to to prime up the bloc’s fuel storage.

The EU’s LNG import final yr is equal to 137bn cubic metres price of pure fuel, near the roughly 140bn cm of pipeline fuel it obtained from Russia in 2021. Analysts warn, nonetheless, that Europe might want to import extra LNG in 2023, because it begins the yr largely void of Russian pipeline fuel, as Moscow moved to halt provides.

In the meantime, China has additionally dropped its zero-Covid guidelines, which analysts anticipate will result in a revival of LNG demand — albeit to not the identical degree as 2021, as Beijing has deployed big quantities of renewable power and is build up its home fuel provide.

LNG now makes up round 35 per cent of Europe’s fuel provide, up from 20 per cent final yr, in keeping with information from think-tank Bruegel.

The Worldwide Power Company warned in December that the EU might face a possible fuel supply-demand hole of 27bn cm in 2023 in a situation the place Russian pipeline fuel deliveries drop to zero and China’s LNG imports rebound to 2021 ranges.

Enhancements in power effectivity and a extra fast growth of renewables would assist to fill the hole, the IEA mentioned. These shifts will likely be wanted “to fulfill the circumstances of refilling fuel storage ranges to 95 per cent and sustaining fuel provide safety by way of to the spring of 2024 with out extreme strains on markets and European customers”.