BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The European Union imported 12.1 billion cubic meters (bcm) of pipeline natural gas (PNG) in May 2025, marking an 11% year-on-year (y-o-y) decline and a 1% drop compared to April, Trend reports via the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
The latest GECF report reveals that despite the overall monthly decrease, some key exporters posted gains. “Month-on-month supply increases were recorded from Russia, Algeria, and Azerbaijan, while flows from Norway declined,” the report stated.
Cumulative PNG imports into the EU during the first five months of 2025 reached 60 bcm — a 10% reduction y-o-y. The fall was primarily attributed to declining supplies from Russia and Norway. Interestingly, for the second month in a row, Norway was the only supplier to post a y-o-y increase in May.
“Norwegian exports to Germany continued to rise, contrasting with reduced flows to the Netherlands and France,” the report noted.
Algeria also expanded its pipeline exports, with a 2% y-o-y increase in flows to Italy and a 4% rise to Spain. Meanwhile, PNG deliveries into the EU via Bulgaria rose by 9% y-o-y during the January–May 2025 period, whereas flows through France dropped by 16% over the same timeframe.
The GECF report highlights a shift in the region’s gas import dynamics: “By May 2025, Greece overtook Spain to become the sixth-largest pipeline gas entry point to the EU.”
In addition, the UK-EU gas interconnector pipelines transported a net 1.3 bcm of gas to the EU during the first five months of the year — a 5% increase y-o-y, largely due to elevated flows in April and May.
“These developments underscore the evolving pattern of intra-regional gas trade and the growing role of southern and eastern corridors in the EU’s gas supply architecture,” GECF said.
