In October 2026, Ukraine reduced imports of liquefied petroleum gas by 23% compared to the same period last year. Despite the decrease in supply volumes, the market faced an acute fuel shortage due to logistical problems and limited supply from foreign producers.
This is reported by Enkorr with reference to a study by the Consulting Group "A-95".
According to analysts, in October Ukraine imported 63 thousand tons of LPG. This is 9% less than in September and 23% less than in October 2025. In total, over ten months imports amounted to 632 thousand tons, down 6% year-on-year.
The main reasons for the shortage were delays at the western border and restrictions on the operation of the Sulina Canal, through which supplies from the southern direction are carried out. Queues at the border at times reached nine days, and during the first 18 days of October the Sulina Canal operated only nine days.
Because of this, new batches of fuel arrived late, and previously formed stocks were gradually depleted. According to market participants, in the second half of October even large buyers could not always purchase the required volumes of gas.
Supplies via the southern direction, which remains the main one for the Ukrainian market, decreased by 17% compared to September - to 46 thousand tons. In particular, imports from Romania decreased by 30%, to 29 thousand tons.
At the same time, the geography of western imports has changed. Latvia became the largest source of supply in this direction for the first time, from where almost 5 thousand tons of gas arrived. This is 2.3 times more than in the previous month. Supplies from Lithuania, on the contrary, decreased.
The situation is complicated by the rise in resource prices on foreign markets. Due to high demand in the Mediterranean and reduced supply in Europe, it has become more difficult for traders to purchase the required volumes, especially butane.
In November, the LPG market may remain under pressure. The introduction of simplified passage for gas carriers at the western border should speed up supplies, but its effect may be limited due to resource shortages and high purchasing prices in Europe.
