German LNG terminals significantly boost throughput in first half of 2026

The two state-owned terminals in Wilhelmshaven (Friesland district) and the terminal in Brunsbüttel (Dithmarschen district) together fed 54 terawatt-hours into the grid, according to figures from the European gas infrastructure operators (GIE). The Baltic Sea terminal in Mukran on Rügen, operated by the private operator Deutsche Regas, accounted for 13 terawatt-hours. Overall, Germany imported around 551 terawatt-hours of gas in the first half of 2026, according to BNetzA data.

North Sea terminals post sharp gains

Capacity utilization at the three DET terminals – two in Wilhelmshaven, one in Brunsbüttel – stood at around 72 percent in the first half of the year, according to figures from Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET), up from roughly 63 percent in the same period the previous year. Both operators plan to further expand their capacity. DET intends to commission another floating terminal in Stade in September, while Deutsche Regas announced it wants to station a second terminal vessel in Mukran, without naming a specific date.

Despite the Middle East conflict and the resulting disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz – through which normally around one-fifth of global LNG is traded – the impact on German supply has remained limited. A Deutsche Regas spokesperson stated: „Seit der Beeinträchtigung der Schifffahrt im Zusammenhang mit dem Konflikt im Nahen Osten gab es im internationalen LNG-Handel tiefgreifende Veränderungen.“ A spokesperson also said: „Internationale Gashändler haben für Europa vorgesehene Lieferungen nach Asien umgeleitet.“

Impact of the Iran conflict remains limited

According to DET, only very few deliveries to its own terminals were cancelled due to competition with the Asian market. The Federal Network Agency also sees no significant risk to Germany from gas sourced from the Persian Gulf. A BNetzA spokesperson said: „Gas vom Persischen Golf spielt für die deutsche Versorgung keine wesentliche Rolle, da Deutschland seine LNG-Lieferungen aktuell aus den USA bezieht.“ According to BNetzA figures, global LNG liquefaction volumes in May 2026 returned to or slightly exceeded the prior-year level, even though Qatar, an important exporter, suffered under the Iran conflict.

Before the build-up of LNG infrastructure, Germany did not have a single such terminal and sourced its gas exclusively via pipelines, primarily from Russia. The federal government had accelerated the construction of floating terminals on the North Sea and Baltic Sea after Russia's attack on Ukraine in order to reduce dependence on Russian gas. The largest share of German gas imports is now covered by pipeline gas from Norway; additional volumes come from the Netherlands and Belgium.

Background: expansion since 2022

The background to the current shifts includes, alongside the Iran conflict, the increased LNG demand in Asia. GIE data show that the North Sea terminals in particular have made a major leap forward. The federal government remains the owner of the state terminals together with DET; according to the company, another floating terminal is planned for Stade in September. That would bring the total number of LNG landing points available nationwide to five.

Overall, those involved assess the half-year balance sheet positively. Despite geopolitical tensions and competition with Asian buyers, German LNG infrastructure has been able to increase its deliveries, according to circles within the operators. The coming months are seen as a yardstick for whether the additional capacity in Stade and Mukran can further raise LNG's share of German gas supply.