Just a few years ago, Russia was the undisputed leader in LPG supplies to Poland, responsible for 70 percent. Imports in 2017-2019, according to the data of the Polish Liquid Gas Organization (PATP), cited by the wnp.pl portal.
However, the situation changed radically after 2022, when the share of Russian gas began to fall systematically. After the introduction of the embargo on the Russian LPG in December 2024, the participation of this raw material in Polish imports decreased to 18 percent. In the first quarter of 2025
Sea terminals in the attention center
Currently, most LPG goes to Poland by sea through the terminals in Gdańsk, Gdynia and Szczecin. They are supplied by European hubs in Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands, which receive gas from large ocean gas (VLGC) flowing from the United States. Then LPG is reloaded to smaller ships and railway tanks to hit the Polish market.
USA is the leader of global export
The United States, the largest LPG exporter in the world, recorded in 2023 an increase in exports to 63.5 million tons from 53.3 million tons a year earlier. The main recipients of American gas are Japan, China and the European Union.
In the Persian Gulf region, the second largest LPG exporter, the largest players – Qatar, ZAA, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait – are responsible for exports of about 44 million tons, mainly to China and India.
The trade war with China changes dynamics
Bartosz Kwiatkowski, CEO of PATP, draws attention to the growing role of the USA in the supply of the European LPG market. At the same time, he emphasizes that the biggest challenge is port capacity and the availability of VLGC gas.
The trade war with China, initiated by former US president Donald Trump, brought unexpected effects. In April 2024, a decrease in orders for American propane from the Chinese petrochemical industry, resulting from prohibitive duties, led to a short decrease in LPG prices by nearly 30 percent. This effect was also felt by Polish consumers, who in April and May could count on lower gas prices.
Stabilization of prices on the horizon
China, the largest LPG importer in the world, in 2024 was the second largest recipient of the American propane and the sixth largest importer of butane. However, the commercial conflict and the weakening economic situation in Europe have contributed to the increased availability of American gas on the EU market. According to PATP, in the coming months there is no increase in LPG prices, which is good news for European consumers.
Source: wnp.pl
