Europe is on track to break its previous monthly record for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports in February, with commodity data firm Kpler forecasting total imports to reach 14.2 million tons as natural gas inventories are rapidly depleted.

Analyst Clyde Russell noted in an LNG market report that this figure would surpass January's import volume of 13.67 million tons. Compared with the same period last year, February 2026 imports are also projected to grow by 22%. More than half (57%) of these imports, amounting to 8.05 million tons, are sourced from the United States. However, Europe continues to import Russian LNG this month, with an expected total of 1.6 million tons, down from 1.68 million tons in January.

The record level of LNG arrivals is partly attributed to weaker demand from China, which has exerted downward pressure on spot market LNG prices, making the fuel more cost-competitive. According to Kpler, China's LNG imports this month are expected to drop to 3.38 million tons, the lowest level since April 2018, and significantly lower than the 4.47 million tons imported in February 2025.

Looking ahead, Kpler predicts that Europe's LNG imports from the United States will rise to 11.19 million tons next month as the European Union urgently replenishes significantly depleted natural gas inventories. Currently, EU gas storage levels have fallen to 30%, compared with a five-year average of 49% for the same period.

While U.S. LNG exports to Europe hit a new record, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has called on the EU to remove methane emission regulations, which would increase costs for LNG exporters. In December, Wright urged the EU to exempt U.S. energy exporters from complying with its methane regulations until 2035. Under the directive, related emission monitoring, reporting, and verification requirements are set to take effect starting in 2027. Wright also warned that two additional sustainability-focused directives could negatively impact EU energy imports from the United States.