The countries of the European Union (EU) consumed about 313 billion cubic meters of gas in 2024. At the same time, pipeline gas imports into the EU increased by 3% in 2024 due to supplies from Russia, Norway and Azerbaijan, the report of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) states.
"In December 2024, gas consumption in the EU increased by 9.3% compared to the same period last year and reached 40 billion cubic meters. There is an increase in the indicator due to increased demand in the energy and housing sectors, after seven months of decline. The decline in wind and hydroelectric power generation meant that the region's electricity grids had to rely heavily on gas-fired power plants to stabilise the grids, the document notes.
In particular, gas demand in Germany in December 2024 increased by 7% to 10 billion cubic metres, in Italy by 8.6% to 7.9 billion cubic metres, in France by 3.5% to 4.3 billion cubic metres, and in Spain by 16% to 3.2 billion cubic metres. The UK increased its gas consumption by 3.2% to 6.8 billion cubic metres.
Pipeline gas imports into the EU in December last year amounted to 13.7 billion cubic metres - 2% higher than the level in November 2024. and 1% more than December 2023. Overall, in 2024, pipeline deliveries to the EU increased by 3% - to 157 billion cubic meters. The growth is due to increased supplies from Russia, Norway and Azerbaijan, notes GECF.
According to the GECF report, total gas consumption in China in November last year increased by 1.7% year-on-year to 35.6 billion cubic meters. Overall, for 11 months of 2024, gas demand in China increased by 9.3% - to 392 billion cubic meters.
Deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe in December decreased in annual terms by 1.7% - to 11.06 million tons. The decrease in LNG imports is due to a decrease in supplies from the United States. LNG imports from Asian countries decreased by 2.7% to about 25.6 million tons. In total, Europe imported 101.27 million tons in 2024, Asia - 283.98 million tons.
Global LNG exports in December increased by 2.6% year-on-year - to a record 38 million tons. Overall, global LNG exports amounted to 414.28 million tons in 2024.
The largest suppliers of liquefied gas in December were the United States, Australia and Qatar. Russia is in fourth place with an indicator of about 3 million tons.