Finance
US share of Europe's LNG imports increased to 60% in January
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 30, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 30, 2026
Tags:European economies
Quick Summary
In January, US LNG imports accounted for 60% of Europe's supply, marking a shift from Russian energy and raising dependency concerns.
US share of Europe's LNG imports increased to 60% in January
US LNG Supply and European Energy Security
By Kate Abnett
Increase in US LNG Share
BRUSSELS, Jan 30 (Reuters) - The United States supplied 60% of the European Union's liquefied natural gas this month, data showed on Friday, confirming its role as Europe's dominant LNG supplier as some European officials become wary of growing reliance on U.S. energy.
Impact of Cold Weather on Demand
The 60% share was an increase from both last month and January 2025, when the U.S. supplied 53% of EU imports, data shared with Reuters by analytics firm Kpler showed.
EU's Shift from Russian Energy
The 5.36 million metric tons of LNG the EU imported from the U.S. in January is the second-highest volume for any month to date, exceeded only by October 2025, Kpler said.
Higher gas demand driven by cold weather this month partly caused the uptick. But Kpler said it expects the trend for increasing U.S. supply to continue, to around 65% of Europe's total LNG this year, from around 56% in 2025.
Europe has increased purchases of U.S. gas to reduce its reliance on Russian energy since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and last year agreed to spend $750 billion on U.S. energy in a trade deal with President Donald Trump.
But Trump’s push to take over Greenland and recent tariff threats have sharpened concerns among some governments of the risk of becoming reliant on the U.S. for fuel.
EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen said this week the crisis over Trump's threats against Greenland had been a "wake-up call" on energy security, and warned the EU risked "replacing one dependency with another" as it shifted away from Russian energy.
Around 19% of the EU's LNG supplies came from Russia in January, Kpler said. The bloc has agreed to ban all Russian LNG and pipeline gas imports by late 2027. The first stages of the gradual ban will take effect in the coming months, prohibiting short-term Russian LNG contracts.
(Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Key Takeaways
- •US supplied 60% of Europe's LNG in January.
- •Increase from 53% in January 2025.
- •EU shifts from Russian to US energy.
- •Concerns over US energy dependency rise.
- •EU plans to ban Russian LNG by 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions about US share of Europe's LNG imports increased to 60% in January
1What is LNG?
LNG stands for liquefied natural gas, which is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state for ease of storage and transport.
2What is the European Union's energy strategy?
The European Union's energy strategy focuses on reducing dependence on Russian energy sources and increasing the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from other suppliers.
3What is the significance of US LNG supply to Europe?
The US LNG supply is significant for Europe as it helps diversify energy sources, enhancing energy security and reducing reliance on Russian gas.
4What are the effects of cold weather on LNG demand?
Cold weather increases the demand for LNG as heating needs rise, leading to higher imports from suppliers like the US.
5What is the EU's plan regarding Russian energy imports?
The EU plans to ban all Russian LNG and pipeline gas imports by late 2027 to enhance energy security.
