European liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports are on track to beat last year’s levels, driven in part by strong deliveries from the United States earlier in 2020, according to data intelligence firm Kpler. 

The firm said this week domestic gas exports to Europe have nearly doubled this year, thanks in large part to a particularly strong first quarter. U.S. deliveries to the continent are expected to return to pre-coronavirus levels of 2 million tons (Mt) this month, according to Kpler. 

Compared with the same time last year, European LNG imports were up by 5.6 Mt to 75.8 Mt through October, Kpler said in a research note this week. The firm said the gains have come despite a 10% decline in European intake during the third quarter when prices and demand were low. 

NGI data...