Energy trade in Europe - Which countries import and which export the most?
The European Union has begun to strengthen energy links between member states to address new security and climate challenges. The EU's united approach is expected to increase security of electricity supply and facilitate the integration of renewable sources into energy markets.
Data from 2024 show that, out of 35 European countries, 13 were net exporters of electricity, meaning they exported more than they imported. While 21 countries were net importers. Only Cyprus reported no electricity imports.
To assess the ratio, the percentage of net imports to total energy consumption is analyzed. A positive figure indicates that a country imports more than it exports, while a negative figure means that the country is a net exporter. On average, EU countries had a rate of -0.5%, which indicates that the bloc exports slightly more energy than it imports.
Several countries stand out as major exporters. Sweden leads with a net rate of -27%, followed by France with -22%. Slovenia (-19%), Norway (-14%), Slovakia (-13%), the Czech Republic (-12%) and Austria (-10%) also fall into the same category.
Of the four largest EU economies, France and Spain are net energy exporters, while Germany and Italy are net importers. Italy has the highest level of dependence with a net import rate of 18%, followed by Germany at 6%.
Differences in the electricity trade balance are related to the production structure of each country. Countries with powerful hydroelectric power plants, such as Sweden and Norway, or with a large nuclear fleet, such as France, are usually exporters. In contrast, countries that rely on unstable renewable sources, such as wind and solar, are forced to import more, especially when domestic production falls due to weather conditions.
In absolute terms, Italy is the largest importer of energy in Europe, with around 51,000 gigawatt hours (GWh), while Germany ranks second with over 26,000 GWh. On the other hand, France is the largest exporter with over 89,000 GWh sold, followed by Sweden with over 33,000 GWh.
Significant fluctuations have been recorded in several countries. Greece, which in 2023 was a net importer with 10%, moved to an exporting position in 2024 with a rate of -0.6%. Meanwhile, Croatia had a significant increase in net imports, from 10% to 26%.
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