The role of the US in supplying energy to Europe is crucial, as European imports of LNG from the US significantly increased recently.
The United States plays a pivotal role in Europe's energy supply, with a staggering 12.2 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) imported by Europe in December 2025, making up 76% of total US LNG exports for that month. This shift demonstrates Europe's increasing reliance on US LNG for its energy needs, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and the quest for energy diversification.
Greece is rapidly evolving into an energy hub for Southeast Europe, strategically leveraging its geographical position and investing heavily in LNG infrastructure, pipelines, and interconnections. The LNG terminals, prominently featuring the Revithoussa terminal and the new FSRU in Alexandroupolis, play a critical role in establishing Greece as a central node in the regional energy landscape. Additionally, the vertical energy corridor allows for the distribution of natural gas from Greece to Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, and wider Balkan areas, thereby enhancing regional energy security.
At the same time, the LNG carrier market exhibits geographical discrepancies, with pressures affecting rates in Asia while freight rates in the Atlantic are surging due to the heightened European demand for American LNG. This situation indicates a potential shift in global LNG trade dynamics, driven by Europe's urgent energy requirements and its diversification away from traditional suppliers, further solidifying the strategic importance of American LNG in the global energy market.
