Spain relies on the United States as a crucial energy supplier amid a global energy crisis and a volatile geopolitical landscape shaped by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Last year, the United States emerged as the top oil supplier to Spain, while liquefied natural gas (LNG) arrived by ship to support the Spanish energy system. Algeria continues to be a key gas partner, though it relies on a separate Mediterranean pipeline to deliver some of its supplies.
The United States expanded its oil and gas output through the controversial fracking technique, which uses high-pressure water to crack rocks and extract hydrocarbons, a practice that faces environmental scrutiny in Europe. Spain, after restricting new permits under the Climate Change Act enacted in 2021, still imports substantial volumes of hydrocarbons produced with fracking from distant sources.
As Europe regrouped after two years of upheaval, a refreshed energy supplier ranking emerged. The United States surpassed Russia and Nigeria to become the leading crude oil supplier to Spain, delivering more than 8.7 million tons—about 31% more than the prior year and over twice the amount in 2021, according to the Strategic Reserves Corporation (Cores).
To secure crude imports, Spanish buyers diversified beyond the United States, increasing purchases from other Atlantic sources. North American imports rose by 21% last year, while Central and South American oil arrivals climbed 24.7%. In contrast, shipments from Europe and Central Asia declined by 24.3%, the Middle East by 30%, and Africa by 10% in the same period.
gas by boat
The United States played a pivotal role in supplying natural gas to Spain during the energy crisis. In 2022, it stood as the largest supplier to the Spanish economy and briefly surpassed Algeria, which had led for decades. By 2023, Algeria regained its top position thanks to a gas pipeline connection, accounting for about 29.3% of all imported gas.
The United States remains the largest seller of liquefied natural gas, which is shipped as LNG and regasified at Spanish terminals. U.S. LNG represented around 21% of Spain’s total gas imports, with shipments amounting to roughly 82,858 gigawatt hours (GWh). Purchases from the United States remained higher than in 2021 by a notable margin, even as overall LNG volumes fluctuated with market conditions.
Spain has established itself as a major global gas hub amid a historic shock to the energy market. European nations sought new suppliers to reduce reliance on Russia, and Spain’s extensive gas infrastructure supported continental energy security and elevated re-exports to record levels.
Re-exports of gas from Spain rose again last year, reaching a new peak of about 75,500 GWh, according to Cores records. This builds on a rapid expansion of reexports in 2022, when activity nearly doubled to exceed 68,200 GWh, marking substantial growth in the resale of gas across Europe.
Spain benefits from an expansive network of regasification plants and gas pipelines that connect with Europe, accounting for a significant share of the EU’s regasification capacity and LNG storage. The country has become a critical hub for incoming gas and its redistribution across the region. In recent years, Spain led as a major gas trader, underscoring its role in continental energy logistics.
Russia: More gas, zero oil
The European Union has implemented sanctions to reduce Russia’s revenue and curb financing of the Kremlin’s actions in Ukraine. Oil imports from Russia face strong limits, while natural gas continues to flow, shaping Spain’s energy mix. Officially, Spain has not purchased Russian oil since mid-2022, though some routes and grey-market activity are believed to persist. Russian gas remains a significant portion of Spain’s imports, reflecting the broader supply dynamics in Europe.
Spanish companies began cutting Russian oil exposure early in the conflict, with imports essentially halted for a period. Meanwhile, Russian gas shipments into Spain increased, maintaining a notable share of total gas purchases. The government has pressed energy firms to modestly reduce Russian gas intake, but current measures lack full legal tools to ban purchases, given the EU’s broader stance on sanctions and energy security considerations.
In this evolving landscape, Spain continues to balance supply diversification with strategic infrastructure and regulatory measures, aiming to sustain a reliable energy supply for households and industries while supporting broader European energy resilience.