According to Bloomberg, the volume of imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the group of countries known as the European Perimeter amounted to 4.9 million tons in July. This is reported by the analytical service BloombergNEF.
This figure is 34% lower compared to the same period last year. Moreover, the decline in supplies has been recorded for the fourth consecutive month since April.
BloombergNEF links the decrease in supplies to the global rise in natural gas prices. The increase in prices is also fueled by the military conflict in the Middle East, which intensifies competition among buyers for LNG cargoes.
With about two months left until the start of the heating season in Europe, the level of underground gas storage remains low, so countries in the region will soon have to sharply increase fuel purchases, disregarding high prices, to prepare for the winter cold.
Recently, BloombergNEF experts noted that Europe is significantly behind the planned schedule for filling gas storage facilities.
