by Ed Cox, Head of Global LNG, Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS)

European liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports reached a record high in January 2022 and could go a little higher if the Russian pipeline gas supply falls - or even stops completely.

But Europe's best-connected LNG terminals are already running at high rates.

Also, limits to cross-border pipeline gas capacity would restrict the wider benefit of higher imports into some countries, such as Spain.

For LNG to take a much greater structural share of the European gas mix, additional import infrastructure is likely required, such as the renewed plans for German import terminals (in Brunsbüttel and Wilhelmshaven).

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