Supplies of Russian liquefied natural gas to Europe in the first half of the year increased by 7% compared to last year, with France increasing its imports the most. French companies imported almost 4.4 billion cubic meters of Russian LNG, compared to more than two billion cubic meters for the same period in 2023. At the same time, the demand for gas in the country fell by 9%.
The next two largest importers, Spain and Belgium, showed an increase in imports of 1% and a decrease of 16%, respectively.
French energy giant TotalEnergies, which accounts for the largest share of imports, said it was bound by contracts signed before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. France’s economy ministry said Houthi attacks on ships passing through the Suez Canal have changed the structure of LNG imports – gas from the Middle East can no longer easily reach Europe, while the Russian route from the Arctic is unaffected.
France imported less Russian LNG than it did from the US, Angola, Cameroon, Egypt, and Nigeria.