Jun 13, 2025
Spanish industrial gas consumption in May reaches a multi-year low.
Last month, Spanish industrial gas consumption was higher than in April but marked the lowest level for May in at least nine years, according to data from grid operator Enagas.
In May, industrial gas demand reached 449 GWh/d, an increase from 441 GWh/d in April, yet it was still below the 465 GWh/d recorded a year earlier, making it the weakest May figure since at least 2016, when Enagas began its public dataset.
Prior to last month, the lowest industrial demand for May in the past nine years was in 2024, with Mibgas day-ahead reference prices averaging €32/MWh.
Spanish industries also consumed less gas than in May 2022, when Mibgas day-ahead prices averaged €77/MWh, over double the €34/MWh average last month according to Argus assessments.
So far in 2025, Spanish industrial demand has been lower each month compared to the previous year, primarily due to restricted gas usage by refineries. Last month, Spanish refiners used 84 GWh/d, down from 100 GWh/d in May 2024, although this sector still represented the largest share of industrial demand.
The food sector saw a considerable drop in demand, decreasing by 13%, while combined heat and power (CHP) plants experienced an 11% decline, and the paper sector fell by 7%.
Gas use by CHPs last month remained lower than the year prior, even though overall demand for Spanish power generation was relatively stable, with reduced contributions from Spanish renewables and nuclear plants. This shift may be partly due to increased competition from combined-cycle gas turbines, which produced 4.4 GW last month, a 63% rise from a year ago.
The metal, chemical, and construction sectors slightly increased their gas consumption compared to the previous year, but this only partially balanced the declines in other sectors.
In May, industrial gas demand reached 449 GWh/d, an increase from 441 GWh/d in April, yet it was still below the 465 GWh/d recorded a year earlier, making it the weakest May figure since at least 2016, when Enagas began its public dataset.
Prior to last month, the lowest industrial demand for May in the past nine years was in 2024, with Mibgas day-ahead reference prices averaging €32/MWh.
Spanish industries also consumed less gas than in May 2022, when Mibgas day-ahead prices averaged €77/MWh, over double the €34/MWh average last month according to Argus assessments.
So far in 2025, Spanish industrial demand has been lower each month compared to the previous year, primarily due to restricted gas usage by refineries. Last month, Spanish refiners used 84 GWh/d, down from 100 GWh/d in May 2024, although this sector still represented the largest share of industrial demand.
The food sector saw a considerable drop in demand, decreasing by 13%, while combined heat and power (CHP) plants experienced an 11% decline, and the paper sector fell by 7%.
Gas use by CHPs last month remained lower than the year prior, even though overall demand for Spanish power generation was relatively stable, with reduced contributions from Spanish renewables and nuclear plants. This shift may be partly due to increased competition from combined-cycle gas turbines, which produced 4.4 GW last month, a 63% rise from a year ago.
The metal, chemical, and construction sectors slightly increased their gas consumption compared to the previous year, but this only partially balanced the declines in other sectors.