Data from the National Institute for Statistics (INS) reveals that Romania’s natural gas imports reached 1.013 million tons of oil equivalent in the first seven months of 2024, reflecting a 5.9% increase, or 56,700 tons, compared to the same period in 2023. During this time, domestic natural gas production also rose, totaling 4.426 million tons of oil equivalent—an increase of 1.3% (58,400 tons) year-over-year.
The National Commission for Strategy and Forecast projects that natural gas production will continue to grow at an average annual rate of 1.7% from 2024 to 2027, building on a 1.4% increase recorded in 2023. The energy balance forecast estimates production for 2024 at 7.675 million tons of oil equivalent, a 0.6% increase, with further growth anticipated in subsequent years: 7.79 million tons in 2025 (+1.5%), 7.907 million in 2026 (+1.5%), and 8.176 million in 2027 (+3.4%).
Regarding imports, a more than 10% increase is expected for 2024, followed by a decline as domestic production ramps up with new capacity. By 2027, a more significant drop of around 6% in imports is anticipated, aligning with increased production and ongoing transit to foreign markets.