The United States is Spain’s largest supplier of oil and gas in the midst of the war.

The main alternative is to increase oil and gas imports to the US to record levels, especially in recent months. Since January, the American giant has become Spain’s largest supplier of gas after dethroning Algeria, and also To be placed as the largest oil seller for the first time in April.

Joe Biden’s government has proposed the sale of crude oil and (shipped) liquefied natural gas (shipped) to Europe to reduce its dependence on Russian hydrocarbons, and the result has been exorbitant growth in transatlantic supply, which Spain enjoys at full energy. crisis.

The weight of the US as a supplier of crude oil to Spain has not stopped increasing in recent months. Spanish companies bought 808,000 tonnes of oil from the US in April, four times more than a year ago, collecting 15% of the country’s total imports, outpacing other selling countries, according to Strategic Reserves records. Company (Cores).

The US is the second largest supplier of oil so far this year, with 11.4% of total imports between January and April, after doubling supply from last year, and is the second largest supplier of oil to Nigeria (14.7% of the total) and oil surpassing oil. just lagged behind. Large traditional exporters to Spain such as Libya (9.7%), Mexico (9%), Saudi Arabia (7.8%) or Iraq (6%).

Similarly, Spain maintains and maintains its gas supply against doubts about the continuity of sales from Russia and the interruption of one of the gas pipelines from Algeria due to the closure of one of the gas pipelines and diplomatic conflict over the Sahara. Shopping from the United States and African countries such as Nigeria or Egypt.

Spain has so far quadrupled its gas purchases from the US this year and in April, thus confirming itself as the new largest gas supplier after dethroning Algeria in January. Last month, the US concentrated 30.7% of all major gas companies in the country (35.3% in the first four months of the year), according to data from gas systems manager Enagás.

Spanish companies also significantly increased gas imports from other African alternative countries in April, such as Nigeria (17% of the total, up 40% and becoming the third largest supplier) or Egypt (with 171% growth). 6% of total gas purchases).

Purchases from Russia during the war

Spain continues to buy oil and gas from Russia The military occupation of Ukraine ordered by Vladimir Putin is already underway. In April, Russian crude oil and gas imports remained stable compared to previous months, although they decreased compared to the same month of the previous year.

this Spain’s exposure to Russian hydrocarbons is relatively low. In April, Russian oil purchases represented only 3.7% of total Spanish imports and gas purchases 8% of the total. While it was emphasized that the supply contracts made with Russia from the energy sector are long-term and cannot be canceled without penal conditions, it was underlined that the operations are completely legal at the moment.

Economic sanctions by the European Union against Russia’s interests have so far not affected gas imports, and Russia’s veto on oil purchases by ship will be progressive and not intended to be completed by the end of the year. In any case, it was noted from the energy sector that these contracts with Russia were not extended due to future supply uncertainty.