In the first quarter of 2026, Greece’s natural gas market demonstrated robust growth, driven by a notable increase in cross-border flows and heightened LNG imports. According to data from the transmission system operator DESFA, total gas demand reached 26.42 TWh, reflecting an 18.5% increase from 22.3 TWh during the same period in 2025.
A key factor contributing to this growth was a remarkable surge in gas exports, which rose to 5.99 TWh, up from just 1.44 TWh a year earlier. This trend underscores Greece’s evolving role as a significant regional gas transit and trading hub. Conversely, domestic consumption saw a slight decline, totaling 20.43 TWh, which represents a decrease of 2.1% year-on-year.
The shift in domestic consumption patterns was marked by reduced gas use for electricity generation, which fell to 12.48 TWh, down from 13.33 TWh in Q1 2025. However, increased demand was noted in the industrial sector and for compressed natural gas (CNG), with industrial consumption rising to 2.28 TWh.
Total gas imports during the quarter amounted to 26.4 TWh, with liquefied natural gas (LNG) making up the majority at 14.9 TWh, or approximately 56% of total imports. This highlights Greece’s growing dependency on LNG as a primary supply source, significantly up from 10.96 TWh recorded in the same period last year.
The Revythoussa LNG terminal continued to serve as Greece’s main entry point for LNG, receiving around 11.44 TWh, which accounts for about 43% of all imports. Additionally, the Alexandroupoli terminal contributed with approximately 3.46 TWh. Pipeline imports also played a crucial role, with Sidirokastro receiving about 8.77 TWh and Nea Mesimvria accounting for another 2.73 TWh.
The United States emerged as Greece’s primary LNG supplier, delivering around 7.6 TWh, or roughly two-thirds of total LNG imports, followed by Nigeria with 3.02 TWh, Egypt at 0.51 TWh, and Mauritania at 0.35 TWh.
An interesting trend emerged despite a reduction in the number of LNG cargoes delivered; total imported volumes increased significantly. In Q1 2026, only 16 cargoes were delivered, transferring a total of 11.48 TWh. This contrasts with the previous year when 20 cargoes delivered only 10.65 TWh, indicating improved efficiency with larger shipments per cargo.
The small-scale LNG segment also experienced substantial growth during this period, nearly doubling its activity levels compared to last year. A total of 273 LNG trucks were loaded this quarter versus just 144 last year, resulting in truck-loading volumes reaching approximately 12,496 cubic meters. The energy delivered through this segment increased by around 92%, amounting to approximately 83,252.18 MWh.
This expansion within Greece’s natural gas market highlights its increasing importance in regional energy dynamics and reflects broader trends in energy consumption and supply strategies across Southeast Europe.
