European countries are increasingly dependent on US gas following sanctions on Russia, cold weather and structural changes in power generation, according to reports from gas import trackers.
They are importing growing volumes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US, to the point that experts say they are now reliant. Recent data shows the US has become the dominant LNG supplier to several European markets.
The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis’ (IEEFA) LNG tracker reported yesterday that the UK, for instance, imports 90 per cent of its gas from the US, up from 77 per cent in January 2025.
“Europe has increased its reliance on imported LNG to meet its gas demand, risking jeopardising its energy security,” Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz, energy analyst at the IEEFA, told Brussels Signal today.
She added that UK LNG imports grew by 46 per cent in January 2026 compared to January 2025, while Belgium’s LNG imports rose by 72 per cent over the same period.
Belgium offers a clear example of the trend toward rising LNG imports. In December 2025, LNG regassified in Belgium was the country’s second-largest source of natural gas at 13.6 TWh, just behind Norway at 14.8 TWh, according to figures published by the Belgian economy ministry . Regasification is the process of converting LNG from its liquid state stored at about -162C back into its natural gaseous state. Belgium acts as a hub for LNG.
The ministry also reported that over the previous six months, 45 per cent of LNG arriving at the Zeebrugge terminal by tanker was from the US, 39 per cent from Russia and 6 per cent from Qatar.
This reflects both the strong presence of US supplies in Belgian gas imports and continued flows of Russian LNG even as pipeline deliveries fell, it said.
The European Union has tried to ban imports of all kinds of Russian energy after the beginning of the Ukraine war four years ago and effects of these bans have started to show late 2025.
Before that, most countries had already started to increase their imports of US LNG, not only to replace Russian gas, but following a deal made last summer with the White House to minimise duties for products the EU exports to the US.
Gas demand has risen sharply across northwestern Europe during the winter months due to colder-than-usual temperatures.
In January 2026, the majority of European countries recorded significantly higher LNG imports compared with January 2025, driven largely by greater heating demand in the severe weather.
In Belgium, the winter increase in gas demand comes against a backdrop of changes in the country’s power mix. Three nuclear reactors were shut down in 2025, including one at the end of November, reducing low-carbon generation capacity and increasing reliance on gas-fired electricity during peak demand.
“This was caused mainly by gas demand surge due to severe, cold weather,” Jaller-Makarewicz said.
In response to ongoing supply pressures, the Belgian Government is currently considering extending the operation of other nuclear plants.
“Major efforts are needed to reduce gas consumption and boost renewables in the power mix,” said Jaller-Makarewic
France, which has prioritised nuclear energy, has been less sensitive than the majority of the continent about this issue.
Brussels-based Bruegel Institute’s European natural gas trackers show that since the sharp decline in Russian pipeline gas supplies, European countries have turned more to LNG imports to meet their demand.
Bruegel reported that total EU natural gas demand remained variable in 2025 and into early 2026, with winter peaks driven by cold snaps.
According to the institute, LNG imports at EU level have accounted for a growing share of overall gas imports as pipeline deliveries from Russia fell to near zero late in 2025 following sanctions and the cut-offs of major transit routes.
