European gas storage injections have been delayed in early April, as higher demand and shifting regional flows slow the start of the refill season. A small increase in European gas consumption between the end of March and the start of April, with demand returning above seasonal expectations for the first time since February, has delayed […]
European gas storage refill in 2026 is set to be more challenging, with higher LNG requirements and increased uncertainty around supply, writes Anne-Sophie Corbeau. A key concern is how the EU will refill its storage this year, especially if the war continues, as the broader outlook remains far from reassuring. Looking at previous years, EU […]
European gas market continues to act as the global balancing market, absorbing the largest share of LNG supply reductions during periods of tight supply. Just over one month from the halt to LNG trade via the Strait of Hormuz, we can start assessing which markets are playing the largest role in absorbing the reduction in […]
Around 115 mtpa of LNG liquefaction capacity has shut operations by the end of March, equating to just over 25% of global LNG trade and representing an unprecedented amount of outages. Qatar’s Ras Laffan and the UAE’s Das Island remained cut from the global LNG market for the full month of March amid the closure […]
American President Donald Trump is threatening to cut off US LNG supplies to Europe if Brussels refuses to ratify a trade agreement favorable to Washington. Recent analyses exposed this new vulnerability for the EU. Incentivising imports of US LNG has created a potentially high-risk new geopolitical dependency. The EU’s plan to increase its reliance on […]
EU gas storage preparations should begin early and in a coordinated way, according to the European Commission, which says the bloc remains protected for now but must act quickly to manage market volatility ahead of next winter. The European Commission has called on EU countries to start gas filling season preparations early and in close […]
European gas price cap proposals are facing strong opposition from energy market participants, who warn that intervention could weaken supply security and disrupt market functioning. Industry groups argue that maintaining market-based pricing is essential to attract LNG and ensure stable gas flows into Europe. A broad coalition of energy companies, market operators and financial institutions […]
Unseasonably low European gas demand has so far played an important role in mitigating the immediate impact of the closure of the strait of Hormuz on global market balances. Since the start of March (and the start of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz), European apparent demand has been 14% below seasonal expectations. This […]
Gas storage has become a critical profit driver in today’s disrupted energy markets. The Iran crisis has reshaped pricing dynamics, flipping the traditional summer-winter spread into negative territory and creating new trading opportunities. Instead of relying on predictable seasonal spreads, traders now benefit from volatility. Those using flexible, active strategies can capitalize on price swings […]