In the first four months of this year, Spain saw a significant increase in liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from the United States, which now account for 35% of the country’s total gas supply. This is a notable rise from just over 20% during the same period last year. The steep increase in American LNG imports coincides with a decline in shipments from Russia, reflecting Europe’s shift in energy sources following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to data from Spanish gas grid operator Enagas, Spain imported the equivalent of 45,932 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of gas from the U.S. this year, compared to 24,885 GWh in the previous year.
The U.S. has emerged as Spain’s primary gas supplier, overtaking Algeria, which not only supplies liquefied gas but also transports gas through pipelines directly to Spain. Despite this shift towards American LNG, Spain’s overall gas demand has seen a decrease of 3%, as reported by Enagas. In contrast to the growing dependence on U.S. gas, the share of Russian gas in Spain’s total imports has diminished significantly, dropping to 13.3% in the first four months of this year from 22.4% during the same period in the previous year. As Europe continues to adapt to changing geopolitical circumstances, Spain’s increasing reliance on U.S. LNG highlights a broader trend in the continent’s energy landscape, emphasizing the need for diversification away from Russian gas supplies.