Polish seaborne LPG imports rise on Russia embargo

Spanish Market: LPG
07/05/25

The EU ban on some Russian imports led to higher utilisation of Poland's Baltic Sea terminals, writes Waldemar Jaszczyk

Polish seaborne LPG imports surged in the first quarter as the country's Baltic Sea terminals became the market's main supply route following the EU's ban on Russian propane-butane mix and propane arrivals. But the growth was capped by reduced re-exports to Ukraine, softening domestic demand and more butane arriving from Russia.

The four Baltic Sea terminals received 320,000t of LPG in January-March, up from 282,000t a year earlier, Kpler data show. European LPG distributor SHV's 900,000 t/yr Gdansk facility received 181,000t, and the Alpetrol-run 420,000 t/yr Gdynia terminal took 89,000t, up by 26pc and 37pc, respectively. Deliveries to state-owned fuel supplier Orlen Paliwa's 250,000 t/yr Szczecin terminal rose by 24pc to 37,000t but were below the 50,000-60,000 t/yr seen in previous years given modernisation works. The firm plans to raise Szczecin throughputs by 50pc to 400,000 t/yr by mid-2025.

These offset a decline in imports to petrochemical producer Azoty's 437,000 t/yr propane dehydrogenation (PDH) complex in Police by more than a half to 19,000t. Azoty is negotiating a sale of the plant to Polish oil firm Orlen as it looks to cut debt accrued largely to develop it.

The EU embargo on Russian LPG, which took effect on 20 December, boosted seaborne intake by forcing Polish importers to shift their supply routes to northwest Europe. Propane and propane-butane mix accounted for over 90pc of Russia's LPG exports to Poland, while normal butane and isobutane, which are not sanctioned, took the balance. Russia was the key supplier to Poland historically, with a 43pc share of all imports in 2024 at 1mn t/yr, according to Polish LPG association POGP.

But weaker import demand as a result of stockbuilding prior to the embargo's start and reduced re-exports to Ukraine, which has shifted its supply routes to Danube river ports in the south, limited the increase in seaborne arrivals. And rising intakes of pure normal butane and isobutane from Russia by rail, which is then blended with propane and sold as autogas, has also weighed on Baltic imports. Russian butane deliveries averaged around 30,000 t/month in the first quarter compared with the more typical 80,000 t/month prior to sanctions.

Poland seaborne LPG imports

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05/06/25

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Oil prices more concerning than steel tariffs: Drillers

03/06/25

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NWE LPG distributors shrug off low Rhine levels

03/06/25

NWE LPG distributors shrug off low Rhine levels

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Japan LPG consolidation picks up after Astomos deal

03/06/25

Japan LPG consolidation picks up after Astomos deal

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