France petroleum product imports: liquefied petroleum gases
France petroleum product imports: liquefied petroleum gases stood at 338 thousand tonnes in Jul 2026, according to Eurostat – imports and exports of oil and petroleum products by partner country, monthly (nrg_ti_oilm, nrg_te_oilm). It is one of the indicators in the Energy trade table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 2008 to Jul 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Energy trade table
| Indicator | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imports of petroleum products | 2,453 | 2,598 | 2,579 | 2,340 | 2,516 | 2,505 | 2,818 | 2,503 | 2,302 | 2,857 | |
| By product | |||||||||||
| Liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) | 338 | 161 | 321 | 346 | 234 | 359 | 284 | 243 | 188 | 144 |
Understanding france petroleum product imports: liquefied petroleum gases
This metric records the total inbound physical volume of liquefied petroleum gases, specifically encompassing propane and butane brought into the country. It isolates pressurized gaseous hydrocarbons that liquefy at moderate temperatures, differentiating them from liquid motor fuels and heavier refinery residues. The scope includes both domestic heating grades and industrial feedstocks, while excluding natural gas in its gaseous state and liquid petroleum products heavier than propane and butane fractions.
Observers must navigate strong seasonal weather dependencies, as residential and agricultural heating requirements drive winter spikes in demand. Preliminary monthly customs entries frequently face retroactive corrections due to specialized metering challenges at marine terminals. Evaluating twelve-month moving averages or corresponding monthly comparisons from prior cycles helps neutralize weather distortions. Analysts must also avoid equating physical tonnage volumes with pipeline natural gas flows, as their transport infrastructure and end-use markets differ entirely.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this series cover both propane and butane imports?
- Yes, the metric aggregates all inbound shipments of liquefied petroleum gases, including both propane and butane fractions.
- How does this differ from standard natural gas imports?
- This measure tracks light hydrocarbons that are liquefied under moderate pressure for transport, whereas natural gas is measured separately in gaseous cubic metres or LNG forms.
- Why do these figures exhibit strong seasonal swings?
- Demand peaks during colder months due to heavy reliance on propane and butane for residential and agricultural space heating.