Three countries The EU raised Gazprom's exports to Europe in 2024

In 2024, Gazprom increased pipeline gas exports to Europe by 13% and partially restored the sharp decline in 2022 due to sanctions and counter-sanctions. Hungary, Greece and Slovakia has increased purchases for itself and for resale to neighboring countries, which have stopped direct imports from the Russian company.

Hungary, Greece and Slovakia increased purchases of Russian pipeline gas in 2024 and increased Gazprom's exports to Europe from 28.3 billion cubic meters to 32 billion cubic meters.

Due to sanctions, counter-sanctions and sabotage, the Russian company has only two supply routes to Europe left in 2024 — through Ukraine and Turkey. According to ENTSOG, the largest growth occurred on the Turkish Stream, it increased by 3.27 billion cubic meters to 16.67 billion cubic meters.

Hungary received the largest additional volumes — 2 billion cubic meters. Thus, the country increased purchases to 7.86 billion cubic meters.

The rest fell on Greece — plus 1.2 billion cubic meters. According to the Greek operator DESFA, the Sidirokastro point on the border with Bulgaria, which is used to import Russian fuel, received 51.6% of all imported gas in 2024 — 3.4 billion cubic meters. At the same time, together with LNG supplies of 272 million cubic meters, the share of Russian fuel in the Greek market has already amounted to 55.6%.

Such a sharp increase in purchases is due both to the competitive price of Gazprom and the growth of consumption in Greece by 30.3% - in industry and electricity generation.

Ukrainian transit grew slightly in 2024 and accounted for less than half of Gazprom's exports to Europe — 15.33 billion cubic meters. The increase in supplies of 430 million cubic meters was due to Slovakia, which actively resold gas to neighboring countries. For example, throughout the year to the Czech Republic. In November, Gazprom stopped deliveries of Austrian OMV and Slovak SPP actively sold the dropped volumes to local customers at the Austrian Baumgarten hub until the end of the year.

On January 1, Ukraine stopped the transit of Russian gas. However, it is not known how much Turkish Stream can increase its capacity. The European line of the Black Sea gas pipeline is already operating at over-design capacity. The Turkish line and the Blue Stream gas pipeline are loaded below capacity, but the infrastructure from Turkey restricts exports to Europe.

As EADaily reported, two weeks have passed since the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine was stopped and, despite all the efforts of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, there are almost no prospects for resuming supplies. Experts doubt that this will happen. In their opinion, both sides will lose, although the losses will not be catastrophic.