The European Union’s (EU) demand for natural gas has been on a downward trajectory for the last two years. Demand saw a 7.4 percent decline in 2023, totaling 12.72 million terajoules, following a 13.3 percent decline in 2022. In 2023, the EU marked the lowest demand for natural gas since the collection of monthly data began in 2008, according to the latest report from Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU.
Measures including the Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1369 on coordinated demand-reduction for gas have contributed to the decline in demand. This regulation falls under the REPowerEU plan to end the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels and tackle the ongoing energy crisis and the increase in energy prices.
In 2023, the largest natural gas consumers in the EU reduced their demand. Germany recorded a 2.96 million terajoules demand, a 3.8 percent decline compared to 2022. Italy recorded a demand of 2.35 million terajoules, a 10 percent decline, and France 1.36 million terajoules, an 11.7 percent decline.
Meanwhile, demand saw an increase in six of the 27 EU countries. The EU recorded the largest jump in demand in Finland with a 25.6 percent increase. Sweden saw an 11 percent increase in natural gas demand, Poland saw a 5.3 percent increase, Malta’s demand rose 4.5 percent, and Croatia’s demand rose 0.8 percent.
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Demand for natural gas has fluctuated in the EU over the last 10 years, recording a peak of almost 17 million terajoules in mid-2010 before declining again. Notably, in 2021, demand peaked at 16 million terajoules before declining to 12.72 million terajoules in 2023.
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