Within the European Union, figures published by Eurogas indicate an increase in demand for natural gas of 1.9% during 2008. In comparison with the falls recorded in 2007 (-1.5%), consumption last year rose quite steadily until the summer, due to the wintry conditions experienced at the beginning of 2008, with lower temperatures than in 2007. The change came after the summer, when the financial crisis not only affected the industrial sector but also had adverse repercussions on the demand for gas for electricity generation.

Spain recorded the highest increase in sales of all EU countries in 2008, with a rise of 10.1%. Demand in the other countries in the union evolved in varying ways: both Germany and Italy saw a fall in demand, at -1% and -0.2% respectively. On the other hand demand was up in the United Kingdom (4.4%), the Netherlands (4.1%) and France (3.5%).

Sales in Spain outstripped those of the Netherlands, making it the fifth largest market in the EU27 group of countries.