Spain significantly increases gas imports from the USA after Trump's “tariff offensive”

Spain significantly increased the import of American liquefied gas (LNG), which coincided with the “tariff offensive” of the US President Donald Trump – said the Spanish economic journal “Cinco Dias”.

According to the data of the Spanish gas system, the ENAGAS American LNG in April was 44 percent. raw material imports to Spain. Compared to April 2024, shopping from the US increased seven times.

This is the second record result when it comes to gas import from the United States. More LNG was brought only in March 2022, right after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when it was widely feared that the Kremlin would cut off the supply of raw material to Europe.

As the “Cinco Dias” emphasized, the sudden increase in gas import from the United States coincided with Trump's “tariff offensive”. The Republican claimed that the US had a commercial deficit with Europe that could be balanced by shopping for American energy.

“The energy sector has been increasing the purchases of various raw materials for months for fear of additional duties”, and this trend intensified after April 2, when “Trump accelerated the trade war” – wrote the Spanish daily.

The imported gas is not intended exclusively for national operators. Spain has the largest LNG storage in Europe thanks to seven regasification plants in the ports of Barcelona, ​​Huelvie, Cartagena, Bilbao, Sagunto, Mugardos and Gijon. Part of the imported raw material goes to other European countries.

Despite the war in Ukraine, Russia still remains the third – after the USA and Algeria – a gas supplier to Spain. In April, deliveries from Russia were responsible for 13.3 percent. all imports of raw material. In 2024, the participation of the Russian LNG in imports to Spain in 2024 amounted to 21.3 percent, while imports from Algeria – 38.5 percent, until the US – 16.6 percent.

“This is due to long -term contracts, such as those signed by Naturgy, the largest Spanish gas company, which also has large contracts with the US,” emphasized “Cinco Dias”.

From Madrid Marcin Furdyna (PAP)

MRF/ AKL/