Casablanca – Morocco ranked among the main importers of natural gas from Spain at the beginning of 2026, reflecting the continued importance of cross-Mediterranean energy flows and the growing role of regional gas trade in supporting the kingdom’s energy supply.

Recent data published by Spain’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves Corporation (CORES) show that Morocco was the third-largest importer of natural gas from Spain during January 2026, highlighting the country’s reliance on gas imported through shared infrastructure linking the two sides of the Strait of Gibraltar.

Spanish gas exports increase in January

According to the latest figures, Spain exported about 3,789 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of natural gas in January, marking an increase of approximately 24 percent compared with the same month in 2025. The rise reflects stronger regional demand for gas and the growing role of Spain as a distribution hub for natural gas within the Western Mediterranean.

Among the destinations for Spanish gas exports, Portugal ranked first, benefiting from its close integration with Spain’s energy network. Turkey came second, while Morocco ranked third, underscoring the strategic importance of the Spanish market in meeting part of Morocco’s energy demand.

Data indicate that Morocco imported around 822 GWh of natural gas from Spain during the month, accounting for approximately 21.7 percent of Spain’s total gas exports during the same period. This share illustrates the significance of gas flows toward Morocco within Spain’s export structure.

Energy cooperation between Morocco and Spain

Energy cooperation between Morocco and Spain has gained importance in recent years, particularly following changes in regional gas supply routes. The two countries share key infrastructure that allows gas to move between their markets, including the Maghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline (GME).

Originally designed to transport Algerian natural gas to Spain through Moroccan territory, the pipeline began operating in reverse flow mode in recent years, allowing gas purchased on international markets to be delivered from Spain to Morocco. This adjustment has enabled Morocco to maintain access to natural gas supplies despite changes in regional pipeline flows.

Gas imported through Spain is used primarily to support electricity generation and industrial activity in Morocco. Natural gas plays an important role in the country’s energy mix, particularly for power plants that rely on gas-fired generation to complement renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

Spain’s gas market trends

The data also highlight developments within the Spanish gas market itself. During January, Spain’s net imports of natural gas declined by about 5.9 percent compared with the same period in the previous year, reaching roughly 30,525 GWh.

Total natural gas imports into Spain amounted to around 34,314 GWh, representing a year-on-year decrease of approximately 3.3 percent. The decline reflects adjustments in domestic demand and evolving supply patterns across Europe.

Spain plays a strategic role in Europe’s gas system due to its extensive regasification infrastructure and its ability to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments from global markets. The country operates several LNG terminals, allowing it to import gas from a wide range of suppliers and redistribute part of these volumes to neighboring countries.

United States remains Spain’s largest supplier

The United States continued to be the largest supplier of natural gas to Spain in January, accounting for 44.5 percent of total supplies to the Spanish market. Imports of American liquefied natural gas reached about 15,284 GWh, representing a strong 46.2 percent increase compared with the previous year.

This growth reflects the increasing importance of LNG shipments from the United States to European markets, particularly since global energy supply chains began shifting in response to geopolitical and market developments over the past several years.

Algeria ranked as Spain’s second-largest supplier, providing approximately 29.4 percent of Spain’s total gas imports. Much of this supply arrives through the Medgaz pipeline, which connects Algerian gas fields directly to Spain’s Mediterranean coast.

Russia placed third, accounting for around 12.7 percent of Spain’s gas imports during the same period, according to the official data.

Pipeline imports rise while LNG declines

The figures also reveal contrasting trends in gas supply routes. Imports through pipelines increased by about 21.9 percent compared with January of the previous year, reflecting stronger pipeline deliveries to the Spanish market.

At the same time, imports of liquefied natural gas declined by approximately 16.6 percent during the same period. This shift suggests a temporary adjustment in Spain’s supply structure, with pipeline deliveries gaining importance during the month.

Growing importance of regional gas trade

Morocco’s position among the leading importers of Spanish gas illustrates the increasing significance of regional energy cooperation across the Western Mediterranean. Gas trade between Morocco and Spain is likely to remain an important component of the kingdom’s energy strategy as it continues to diversify supply sources and strengthen energy security.

At the same time, Morocco is pursuing long-term projects aimed at expanding its gas infrastructure and integrating natural gas into its broader energy transition strategy. These initiatives include plans for new LNG import capacity, expanded gas-to-power generation, and large-scale regional pipeline projects that could connect West African gas resources to North Africa and Europe.

As these projects develop, gas flows between Morocco and Spain are expected to continue playing a stabilizing role in the regional energy system, supporting electricity generation and industrial activity while contributing to the diversification of supply across Mediterranean energy markets.