The January-March gas import bill was 6.1 billion euros, with the volume at 1,235,670 terajoules (TJ)*, data from trade statistics office BAFA showed.

Germany mainly imports gas from Russia, Norway, the Netherlands, Britain and Denmark.

BAFA no longer provides a breakdown of supply from each country, but Russia is the top supplier by far.

Many continental European gas prices under long-term supply contracts still track crude oil prices, with a time lag, though the importance of virtual gas trading points for spot supplies is increasing.