Large volumes of US liquefied natural gas (LNG) are scheduled to arrive in Greece in early 2026, highlighting the country’s growing role as a regional gas distribution hub, even before the Vertical Gas Corridor reaches full operational capacity. Current schedules indicate that at least 17 LNG tankers from the United States are expected during the first quarter of the year.
Most of the shipments are destined for the Revythoussa terminal, which is preparing to handle 14 deliveries between January and March. This includes four deliveries in both January and February, and six in March, totaling over 11 TWh of gas. The majority of this volume is expected to be forwarded north, primarily to Bulgaria.
Meanwhile, the Alexandroupoli LNG terminal is set to receive at least one tanker per month during the same period. Market participants do not rule out additional arrivals in February and March, which could bring the total number of US shipments to 17 or more in just three months.
If all scheduled deliveries occur, Greece would see an average of five to six LNG carriers per month, a level rarely observed in the local market. Energy analysts note that sustained US interest reinforces Greece’s role as a future transit route toward Eastern Europe and Ukraine, particularly once initial operational bottlenecks along the Vertical Gas Corridor are resolved.
This sharp increase in scheduled imports follows a dramatic rise in US LNG flows to Greece in 2025, when deliveries surged to 8.59 TWh, roughly three times the volume recorded in 2024. These developments have positioned Revythoussa and Alexandroupoli as key nodes in the Balkan gas supply chain.
Adding to market pressure, prolonged cold weather across Europe has boosted gas consumption and intensified spot trading, pushing prices up by nearly 40% since early January. By the end of last week, benchmark gas prices had reached €37.6/MWh. Traders report strong demand for spot cargoes in Greece and neighboring Balkan markets, raising the likelihood of additional LNG shipments beyond those currently scheduled.