Ukraine Gas Storage Use Tapers Off

After a month and a half of low storage withdrawals this year compared with the same period last year, Ukraine had 9.2bn  m³ of gas left in store as of March 15 compared with 8.9bn m³ by mid-March 2018. Unlike last year, it was still injecting until mid-November but then withdrawals began in earnest, leaving it with less in store than last year for most of the first quarter. But withdrawals levelled off in February.

Last year's withdrawals continued until early April, at which point there were still about 7.5bn m³ left. Weather is the principle factor influencing withdrawals, but the country's industrial demand may be weaker this year as well, and domestic production could be higher; imports may also be relatively cheaper.