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Gas price continues to fall on the EU spot market
Graph: spot gas price over a 5-year period. Source: Trading Economics *
EU prepares for winter 2023-24
In 2022, the EU increased LNG imports by almost 70% YOY over 9 months. Higher European spot prices compared to prices in Asian markets have helped Europe secure additional supply. In fact, the EU has set a target to fill storage tanks to 90% by 1 October 2023. At the same time, it has drawn up a plan to reduce LNG demand across member states - by 15% by March 2023. However, it will still have to compete for LNG in the global market and will remain vulnerable to the dynamics of development.
Wider market context vs. regulatory efforts
The European Commission's proposals to reduce high energy prices are another factor putting pressure on gas prices. These proposals include joint purchases of natural gas by EU countries, the creation of a new LNG pricing standard, limiting price volatility on the TTF gas exchange, and the establishment of solidarity rules in the event of supply shortages. The Commission's recent proposals include only a temporary price correction mechanism to prevent extreme price fluctuations, rather than the more permanent price cap proposed by some Member States, which could affect the attractiveness of the European market for alternative gas supplies.
Adam Austera, Senior Analyst at Ozios
* Past performance is no guarantee of future results
Sources:
https://www.europeangashub.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-dutch-groningen-gas-field.html
https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/eu-natural-gas
https://www.bruegel.org/policy-brief/european-union-gas-survival-plan-2023