Germany’s LNG import share rises despite Iran war

By the Editorial Team · Monday, July 6, 2026

Germany increased its LNG imports to 12% of its natural gas supply in early 2026 despite disruptions from the Iran conflict, primarily sourcing gas from the United States. This shift underscores Germany's efforts to diversify energy sources amid global supply realignments and reduced Gulf region contributions.

Germany increased its reliance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports during the first half of 2026, despite disruptions to global supply caused by the ongoing conflict in Iran. According to data released by the Federal Network Agency on Sunday, LNG accounted for approximately 12% of Germany’s total natural gas imports through its North Sea and Baltic Sea terminals, rising from 10% in 2025 and 8% in 2024.

The agency reported that Germany imported roughly 551 terawatt-hours (TWh) of natural gas during the period, with about 67 TWh delivered as LNG via maritime shipments. The war in Iran has significantly reduced LNG production in Qatar and disrupted transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage historically responsible for about 20% of global LNG shipments. However, German officials emphasized that gas supplies from the Gulf region continue to play a limited role in its energy portfolio. Instead, Germany predominantly sources LNG from the United States, mitigating some of the impact from Middle Eastern supply constraints.

Despite the regional instability, global LNG volumes returned to or slightly surpassed the levels seen in 2025 by May 2026, the agency noted. Nevertheless, the head of operations at the Mukran LNG terminal on the Baltic Sea island of Rügen highlighted significant shifts in international LNG trade patterns. According to the spokesperson, gas shipments that were initially destined for Europe have been redirected to Asian markets, which has affected throughput at certain German terminals.

State-owned Germany Energy Terminal (DET), which manages three terminals along the North Sea coast, reported increased utilization rates during the first half of the year. The terminals operated at about 72% of their capacity, up from 63% during the same period last year.

These developments reflect the broader realignment of global LNG flows amid geopolitical tensions and changing market dynamics, with Germany intensifying its LNG imports to diversify its energy sources and reduce dependence on pipeline gas.

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