Bruegel: European Natural Gas Imports Dataset

Institution: Bruegel (European think tank)

Date: Dataset updated through 2025

URL: https://www.bruegel.org/dataset/european-natural-gas-imports

File: bruegel-european-natural-gas-imports.md

Summary

Bruegel maintains a comprehensive dataset on European natural gas imports covering pipeline imports (from Russia, Norway, Algeria, Azerbaijan) and LNG imports by origin country. The dataset tracks weekly and quarterly import flows, storage levels, and infrastructure capacity utilization. It documents Europe's historical dependency on Russian pipeline gas via Nord Stream, Yamal, Ukraine, and TurkStream, and shows how LNG imports have compensated for the decline in Russian pipeline flows since 2022.

Key Findings

**Pre-2022 Russian pipeline dominance:** The largest share of EU gas was historically delivered from Russia via four corridors: Nord Stream, Yamal (via Poland), Ukraine, and TurkStream (via Turkey). (Bruegel dataset)

**LNG substitution post-2022:** Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the volume of Russian pipeline imports has collapsed while LNG imports have risen substantially. Russian LNG imports to European terminals have remained relatively unaffected by the sanctions regime. (Bruegel dataset)

**Pipeline import routes tracked:** Norway, Algeria, and Azerbaijan provide pipeline gas imports via distinct corridors. Net imports from the UK are also tracked. (Bruegel dataset)

**LNG imports by origin:** Bruegel's dataset shows EU monthly LNG imports by region/country of origin since January 2020. Key sources include the U.S., Qatar, and other global LNG exporters. (Bruegel dataset)

**Storage levels and market reassurance:** Storage levels within EU borders are tracked alongside import volumes. Current storage level relative to capacity is a key market signal for supply security. The dataset covers EU and Ukraine storage levels and gross natural gas exports from EU countries to Ukraine. (Bruegel dataset)

**Regasification capacity utilization:** The dataset tracks weekly regasification capacity usage rates in comparison to 2019–2021 averages, signalizing potential supply bottlenecks at EU LNG terminals. (Bruegel dataset)

**Daily import tracking:** Actual daily import figures are available for the last 30 days, including route-specific breakdowns for Russian pipelines, Norway, Algeria, Azerbaijan, LNG, and UK net imports. (Bruegel dataset)

**Context for 2026 crisis:** This dataset provides the analytical baseline for understanding Europe's pre-Hormuz gas import profile — specifically the share of LNG imports from Qatar/UAE via Hormuz that would be disrupted by the February 2026 closure. (Bruegel dataset, contextual interpretation)

Entities Mentioned

**Organizations:** Bruegel, Energy Institute (Statistical Review data source), IEA, EU TSOs
**Places/Countries:** EU (27), Russia, Norway, Algeria, Azerbaijan, UK, Ukraine, Qatar, UAE, United States
**Infrastructure:** Nord Stream, Yamal pipeline, TurkStream, Ukrainian transit corridor, LNG terminals across EU, underground gas storage
**Numbers:** 2015–2020 baseline comparison period, weekly and quarterly import data series, 2019–2021 regasification capacity average

Relevance to Q1/Q2/Q3

**Q1 (Hormuz closure extent):** Low direct relevance — dataset provides historical/structural context, not primary evidence of the current closure
**Q2 (Price impact):** Medium relevance — Europe's structural gas import profile (dependency on LNG, specific countries of origin) determines demand elasticity and price response magnitude
**Q3 (Europe gas/security):** High direct relevance — core dataset for understanding Europe's gas supply architecture; documents LNG dependency, pipeline diversification away from Russia, and storage as a buffer; directly relevant to assessing Europe's exposure to Hormuz LNG disruption

Quotes

"The largest share of gas used to be delivered from Russia via four distinct corridors: Nord Stream, Yamal (via Poland), Ukraine, Turkstream (via Turkey)." — Bruegel dataset description

"While in summer 2021 natural gas imported from Russia via pipeline started to decrease, the volume of Russian LNG reaching European LNG terminals has to date remained unaffected." — Bruegel dataset description

Q1-SUPPLY-DESTRUCTION Q2-PRICE-IMPACT Q3-EUROPE-IMPACT