Russian gas company Gazprom increased its natural gas exports to southeastern Europe by 41.7 % in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period last year, reaching a total of 6.958 billion cubic meters.
In the first six months of 2021, Moldova was the largest importer of Russian natural gas in the region, with a total of 1.698 billion cubic meters, which is 12.7 % higher compared to H1 2020. Romania experienced the largest increase in deliveries – gas imports in the first half of 2021 reached 1.247 billion cubic meters of gas as opposed to 343 million last year, which is a 263.6 % increase.
Bulgaria came second with 1.473 billion cubic meters of gas, compared to 1.033 billion in the first half of 2020, which is a 42.6 % increase. Croatia is the example of decreasing Russian gas imports in the region, due to the launch of its LNG terminal. It imported 0.836 billion cubic meters of gas or 12.6 % less compared to the previous year. Slovenia imported 1.277 billion cubic meters (+ 134.2 %), Slovenia 0.306 billion cubic meters (+ 109.6 %), Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.133 billion cubic meters (+ 11.8 %), while North Macedonia imported 38 million cubic meters, which is a 62 % decrease.
