Spain’s natural gas purchases rose sharply in August, reflecting a notable shift in its energy imports. The month saw a 102.19 percent increase in gas purchases, driven by a substantial rise in imports from Algeria and the United States while Russian gas remained a smaller piece of the puzzle. This uptick aligns with the latest Enagás Statistical Bulletin released this week, which also notes a 34.8 percent year‑over‑year drop in gas from Algeria compared with August of the prior year.
In August, Spain imported 9,127 GWh of Russian natural gas, while imports from Algeria reached 13,397 GWh. A year earlier, Algeria had supplied 13,397 GWh, and in August 2021 Spain received 2,228 GWh from the same country, illustrating a volatile mix of sources. The month’s total gas intake adds up to 38,066 GWh, marking a 3.43 percent rise from the previous August. This pattern shows how Spain’s energy sourcing has shifted rapidly in response to geopolitical and market factors, with LNG and interconnections playing increasingly important roles [citation needed].
The United States remained the leading supplier, delivering 10,074 GWh in August and signaling an annual rise of about 92.22 percent. France also contributed notably, with 4,688 GWh, a rise of roughly 95.5 percent from the 2,398 GWh imported in August 2021. Nigeria’s gas purchases declined by 3.8 percent, totaling 5,835 GWh in August 2022 versus 6,067 GWh the previous year. These movements underscore how European gas trade has diversified in the wake of regional disruptions [citation needed].
When examining market share, the USA accounted for about 26.5 percent of Spain’s August gas purchases, followed by Algeria at 24 percent, Nigeria at 15.3 percent, France at 12.3 percent, and Russia at 11.8 percent. Interconnections and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments together formed the bulk of imports, with 36.7 percent via existing gas interconnections and 63.3 percent arriving as LNG shipments, highlighting the growing importance of LNG in Spain’s supply mix [citation needed].
Looking at eight months of the year to date, Spain accumulated 301,498 GWh of natural gas purchases, a 13.89 percent increase year over year. During this period, imports from the United States represented 32.1 percent of total purchases (96,683 GWh). Algeria supplied 24.4 percent (73,662 GWh), Nigeria and Russia together accounted for about 14.4 percent (43,467 GWh), and another portion, 10.9 percent (32,770 GWh), came from Russia or other sources in the mix [citation needed].
The trend shows a substantial shift in the shares of Russian gas. From January to August, Russian gas accounted for about 10.9 percent of imports, compared with 10.1 percent in the first eight months of 2021. Meanwhile, gas from the USA surged by roughly 270.6 percent year on year by August, and purchases from Russia rose by about 22.89 percent, with Nigeria showing a 53.8 percent increase in the same period. Algeria, on the other hand, experienced a 41.17 percent drop in imports, largely driven by a 38 percent decline in pipeline gas reaching Spain in the first eight months of 2021 to August 2022 [citation needed].
On the export front, Spain’s flow to France via the VIP Pyrenees interconnection amounted to 1,597 GWh in August, up from 898 GWh in August 2021. The broader context shows a European energy landscape disrupted by the Ukraine conflict, prompting Spain to trade as both importer and exporter at different times. In April, exports to France reached 5,618 GWh, and May saw a record 6,185 GWh, a 10 percent month‑over‑month increase. In August, however, the balance swung back toward imports as Spain bought 4,688 GWh from France, reflecting the fluid nature of regional gas flows [citation needed].
Gas carrier activity also shifted. In August, the amount discharged by ships rose by 12.1 percent versus the same month in the previous year, totaling 24,097 GWh, while the number of ships unloading remained at 25, essentially flat compared with August 2021. This combination of higher volumes and stable vessel activity illustrates how Spain’s gas logistics balance evolves with market and supply conditions [citation needed].