The experts of the research company Kpler calculated that from January to October this year, 27 countries of the European Union bought 105 billion tons of LNG.
According to experts, the amount of natural gas liquefied during the same period last year stagnated at 64 billion tons. The sharp increase in LNG consumption was caused by a 45% drop in Russian gas exports due to sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline strings, as well as Moscow's demands to pay for Russian gas in rubles.
Laura Page, a leading Kpler analyst, predicted the total volume of LNG purchases by EU countries to the level of 125 billion tons.
The largest LNG suppliers to Europe were Qatar, the U.S., Australia, Russia and African countries.
June was the month when LNG volumes from the U.S. exceeded natural gas supplies from Russia, the International Energy Agency summed up the situation.