# EU starts heating season with lowest gas stocks since 2013

> The International Energy Agency says the EU is starting the heating season with its smallest gas reserves in over a decade, leaving it more reliant on imported liquefied gas.

Economy · published 2026-11-03 07:28 · https://nlnow.nl/a/eu-enters-winter-with-lowest-gas-stocks-since-2013/

EU gas storage sites are entering the heating season at their lowest level since 2013, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says in a new report. The agency's researchers warn that the tight global gas market could last until deep into 2027.

With stocks this low, the EU depends more on global LNG supplies (LNG), which arrive by ship, at the time of year when demand is highest.

The researchers write: "If the winter is colder than expected, or there's a problem with supply, the region will be even more vulnerable."

## Dutch storage

Dutch storage sites held 94.6 TWh of gas on 1 November, 66% of capacity. That is double the 33% recorded on 19 July, but the level has barely moved in the last two weeks.

**Dutch gas storage doubled since July but has levelled off** (% of capacity; source: AGSI+)

- 19 Jul: 33
- 26 Jul: 35
- 2 Aug: 38
- 9 Aug: 40
- 16 Aug: 42
- 23 Aug: 44
- 30 Aug: 47
- 6 Sep: 50
- 13 Sep: 53
- 20 Sep: 56
- 27 Sep: 58
- 4 Oct: 60
- 11 Oct: 63
- 18 Oct: 65
- 25 Oct: 65
- 1 Nov: 66

## Background

- **IEA (Internationaal Energieagentschap)**: The International Energy Agency is an intergovernmental organisation based in Paris that advises its member countries on energy policy and publishes analysis and data on global energy markets, including oil, gas, electricity and renewables. The Netherlands is one of its member countries. Its reports, such as its outlooks on gas supply and demand, are widely used by governments and energy companies to judge market conditions.

From NLnow, news from the Netherlands in English. How stories are made: https://nlnow.nl/about/