Algeria has cut pipeline flows to Spain by around a third so far this month, prompting Spanish firms to boost LNG imports.
Inflows at the Almeria entry point have averaged 211 GWh/d in October, down from 322 GWh/d across the rest of 2026 and 324 GWh/d in October last year. Monthly averages have not fallen below 300 GWh/d this year, except in September when maintenance on the Medgaz pipeline halted all flows on 18-21 September. Flows outside that period in September averaged 315 GWh/d.
The cause of the drop is unclear. Medgaz's 2026 maintenance schedule, published in January, lists works in October but does not indicate any capacity reduction. The October maintenance cites "TK20 OVH" at "BSCS", which could mean an overhaul at the Beni Saf compressor station, which pressurises gas before transit to Spain. The operator issued notices of full flow stoppages before September works this year.
Increased Algerian LNG output suggests upstream maintenance or higher domestic demand are unlikely to be behind the lower pipeline exports. Algeria has exported 729,768t of LNG so far this month, the highest this year apart from May, according to Kpler ship-tracking data. That is below the 1.03mn t exported in October last year, but loadings at the current pace would exceed that figure by the end of the month.
Spain has compensated for the lower pipeline supply with additional LNG deliveries. It has imported 1.22mn t so far this month — the most since May but below the 1.62mn t received in October 2025. At the current rate, October imports would exceed last year's total for the month. As of Wednesday afternoon, three more cargoes were indicating arrival before month-end.
Algeria supplied part of that increase. Three full-size Algerian cargoes totalling 214,671t have been delivered to Spanish terminals so far this month, the most this year but below the 254,149t delivered in October 2025.
