Dutch households and industry used 10% less gas in the first half of 2023 when compared with last year, according to new figures from national statistics agency CBS.

In particular, the chemicals industry reduced its use of gas by 18%, while households used 13% less gas for heating and cooking, due in part to the mild winter, the CBS said.

The decline comes on top of the record 25% drop in gas usage in 2022 as a whole, as soaring prices driven by the war in Ukraine forced industry and households to cut back.

The CBS also said imports of liquid natural gas (LNG) were up 50% in the first half of the year, and now account for 42% of imported gas. A new LNG terminal was opened in Rotterdam in September 2022 with the aim of boosting imports following the introduction of sanctions against Russia.

Most of the supply came from the US (63%) but 8% was imported from Russia – a drop of nearly 60% on the previous year.  Domestic production of gas from land and sea continued to fall, and was down 38% on a year ago at 2.7 billion cubic metres.

In all Dutch gas reserves were filled to 78% capacity at the end of June, well above the official target.