Egypt LNG Imports Jump 152% in Three Months

Egypt’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports surged by 152% in the first quarter of 2026, highlighting growing pressure on energy markets amid widespread supply disruptions linked to regional conflict, according to data from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.

The country imported approximately 3.85 billion cubic meters of gas during the quarter, compared with 1.53 billion cubic meters in the same period last year, marking one of the sharpest increases in its recent energy profile.

The report, reviewed by CNN Business Arabic, indicates that Egypt and Turkey were the main drivers of rising LNG demand outside Europe and Asia during the period, as structural declines in domestic production combined with sustained consumption growth.

Egypt’s reliance on imported LNG has intensified following disruptions to regional gas flows, including a reported halt in Israeli gas exports earlier this year after production stoppages at key offshore fields such as Tamar and Leviathan amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

Turkey also recorded a historic increase in LNG imports, reaching 8.6 billion cubic meters in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 8.3 billion cubic meters a year earlier, underscoring a broader regional shift toward seaborne gas supplies.

According to Oxford Institute researcher Bill Farren-Price, the temporary shutdown of LNG production capacity in the Middle East in March represented the largest supply shock in the history of the industry. He estimated that roughly 20% of global LNG export capacity, equivalent to around 9 billion cubic meters per month, was affected at the peak of the disruption.

The report noted that while the shock triggered sharp price increases across global benchmarks, including European TTF contracts and Asian LNG prices, the impact remained below the extremes seen in 2022 due to new supply coming online from outside the Gulf and weaker demand growth in key Asian markets such as China.

European demand for LNG remained strong, driven by reduced domestic production and seasonal consumption needs, but analysts warned that weaker economic growth could limit long-term demand while simultaneously increasing market vulnerability.

The study also highlighted a rapid price spike following the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East, with European gas benchmarks rising sharply within days and Asian prices briefly exceeding $25 per million British thermal units.

Despite near-term stability, the report warned that prolonged disruptions to liquefaction facilities and shipping routes, particularly through strategic chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, could remove up to 20% of global LNG supply and delay full market recovery until as late as 2028.