In 2025, Romania has solidified its status as the largest natural gas producer within the European Union, a position it first claimed in 2024 by surpassing the Netherlands. Romanian production reached approximately 357,500 terajoules (TJ), outpacing the Netherlands, which produced around 315,000 TJ. Despite minor declines in output for both countries compared to the previous year, Romania maintained a substantial lead in energy production.
Romania’s contribution to EU gas production is significant, accounting for about 30% of the total output, which was approximately 1.2 million TJ in 2025. However, this production only satisfies a little over 3% of the overall European demand of around 11.5 million TJ. The EU remains heavily reliant on imports from countries such as Norway and the United States, with domestic production fulfilling merely 10.5% of internal demand—a slight improvement from 2024 attributed to reduced consumption across Europe.
Data from Eurostat indicates that while the Netherlands extracted a marginally higher physical volume of gas, Romania’s output is noted for its greater energy content due to a higher calorific value. This distinction underscores Romania’s strategic advantage in energy production despite facing competition from other EU member states.
Looking forward, Romania’s position in the gas market is expected to strengthen further with the development of the Neptun Deep offshore project, slated to commence production in 2027. This initiative is a collaborative effort between Romgaz and OMV Petrom, which together currently account for approximately 87% of Romania’s gas output. The anticipated offshore volumes are expected to significantly boost domestic production capabilities and enhance Romania’s competitive edge among EU gas producers.
