Overall, the cost of electricity imports expanded by an average 276.5% for all importing countries since 2018 when international purchases of electricity were valued at $34.5 billion.
Year over year, purchases of globally imported electricity accelerated by 95.5 compared to $66.4 billion for 2021.
The 5 biggest spenders on imported electricity are the European nations France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Hungary. Combined, that powerful quintet bought almost half (47.5%) worth of all electricity imported during 2022.
From a continental perspective, countries in Europe spent the most on imported electricity during 2022 with purchases costing $114 billion or well over four-fifths (87.9%) of the world total. In second place were Asian importers at 4.8%. Another 4% of electricity imported worldwide was delivered to customers in North America.
Buyers in Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean bought 1.9% worth of imported electrical energy, trailed by customers in Africa at 1.3%. Oceania including Australia and New Zealand imported no electricity at all.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 2716 for electrical energy.
Top 15 Electricity Importers by Country
Below are the 15 countries that spent the most on imported electricity during 2022.
- France: US$16.8 billion (12.9% of total electricity imports)
- Italy: $15.1 billion (11.6%)
- Germany: $13 billion (10%)
- Switzerland: $9.23 billion (7.1%)
- Hungary: $7.6 billion (5.9%)
- Austria: $4.8 billion (3.7%)
- United States: $4.2 billion (3.3%)
- Belgium: $4 billion (3.1%)
- Spain: $3.6 billion (2.8%)
- Poland: $3.5 billion (2.7%)
- Slovakia: $3.45 billion (2.7%)
- United Kingdom: $3.35 billion (2.6%)
- Denmark: $3.3 billion (2.5%)
- Finland: $3.2 billion (2.4%)
- Romania: $2.6 billion (2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 75.2% of all electricity imported in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for electricity since 2021 were: France (up 320.2%), Poland (up 229.1%), Slovakia (up 164.3%) and Italy (up 135.1%).
Buyers in the United Kingdom represent the sole major supplier to posted a decline in its imported electricity purchases, down -15.5% from 2021.
Electricity Imported into France
France’s global purchases of imported electricity totaled US$16.8 billion in 2022. Below are the top suppliers from which France imported the highest dollar value worth of electricity during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Spain: US$4.2 billion (up 311.3% from 2021)
- United Kingdom: $3.9 billion (up 999.8%)
- Belgium: $3.5 billion (up 198.3%)
- Germany: $3.2 billion (up 321.3%)
- Switzerland: $1.8 billion (up 214.9%)
- Italy: $220.1 million (up 80.1%)
By value, the listed countries shipped 100% of electricity imported by France in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of electricity to France from 2021 to 2022 were: United Kingdom (up 999.8%), Germany (up 321.3%), Spain (up 311.3%) and Switzerland (up 214.9%).
Overall, the value of France’s imported electricity accelerated by an average 320.2% from all supplying countries from 2021 to 2022 when electricity purchased cost $4 billion.
Electricity Imported into Italy
Italy’s global purchases of imported electricity totaled US$15.1 billion in 2022. Below are the top suppliers from which Italy imported the highest dollar value worth of electricity during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Switzerland: US$6.1 billion (up 4,030% from 2021)
- France: $5.7 billion (up 93.7%)
- Slovenia: $1.1 billion (up 1715.6%)
- Montenegro: $1.1 billion (2021 data unavailable)
- Austria: $594.7 million (2021 data unavailable)
- Greece: $543.1 million (2021 data unavailable)
- Malta: $1.5 million (down -45.6%)
By value, the listed countries shipped 100% of electricity imported by Italy in 2022.
Among the above countries, the growing suppliers of electricity to Italy from 2021 to 2022 were: Switzerland (up 4,030%), Slovenia (up 1,716%) and France (up 93.7%).
Overall, the value of Italy’s imported electricity rose by an average 135.1% from all supplying countries from 2021 to 2022 when electricity purchased cost $6.4 billion.
Electricity Imported into Germany
Germany’s global purchases of imported electricity totaled US$13 billion in 2022. Below are the top suppliers from which Germany imported the highest dollar value worth of electricity during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Denmark: US$2.5 billion (up 156.2% from 2021)
- Austria: $2.3 billion (up 239.6%)
- Netherlands: $2.2 billion (up 195.6%)
- Czech Republic: $1.8 billion (up 126.1%)
- Norway: $1.3 billion (up 169.5%)
- France: $800.5 million (down -18.7%)
- Sweden: $788.9 million (up 186.4%)
- Switzerland: $721.1 million (up 70.5%)
- Belgium: $600.2 million (up 148.1%)
- Poland: $72.2 million (up 84.5%)
By value, the listed countries shipped 100% of electricity imported by Germany in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of electricity to Germany from 2021 to 2022 were: Austria (up 239.6%), Netherlands (up 195.6%), Sweden (up 186.4%) and Norway (up 169.5%).
Overall, the value of Germany’s imported electricity increased by an average 131.8% from all supplying countries from 2021 to 2022 when electricity purchased cost $5.6 billion.
Electricity Imported into Switzerland
Switzerland’s global purchases of imported electricity totaled US$9.2 billion in 2022. Below are the top suppliers from which Switzerland imported the highest dollar value worth of electricity during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- France: US$4.4 billion (up 87.8% from 2021)
- Germany: $3 billion (up 203.8%)
- Austria: $1.4 billion (up 143.9%)
- Italy: $466 million (up 58.4%)
By value, the listed countries shipped 100% of electricity imported by Switzerland in 2022.
Among the above countries, the growing suppliers of electricity to Switzerland from 2021 to 2022 were: Germany (up 203.8%), Austria (up 143.9%), France (up 87.8%) and Italy (up 58.4%).
Overall, the value of Switzerland’s imported electricity went up by an average 120.7% from all supplying countries from 2021 to 2022 when electricity purchased cost $4.2 billion.
Searchable List of Electricity Importer Countries in 2022
The 104 major importers of electrical energy from international markets accounted for 100% of electricity imported worldwide during 2022.
| Rank | Importer | Electricity Imports | 2021-2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | France | $16,778,909,000 | +320.2% |
| 2. | Italy | $15,065,356,000 | +135.1% |
| 3. | Germany | $12,997,668,000 | +131.8% |
| 4. | Switzerland | $9,225,053,000 | +120.7% |
| 5. | Hungary | $7,593,982,000 | +110% |
| 6. | Austria | $4,816,652,000 | +110.5% |
| 7. | United States | $4,244,474,000 | +61% |
| 8. | Belgium | $4,048,671,000 | +109.2% |
| 9. | Spain | $3,569,564,000 | +28% |
| 10. | Poland | $3,468,711,000 | +229.1% |
| 11. | Slovakia | $3,450,276,000 | +164.3% |
| 12. | United Kingdom | $3,346,487,000 | -15.5% |
| 13. | Denmark | $3,258,069,000 | +105.1% |
| 14. | Finland | $3,164,418,000 | +54.7% |
| 15. | Romania | $2,612,572,000 | +126.5% |
| 16. | Lithuania | $2,527,625,000 | +103.9% |
| 17. | Norway | $2,312,089,000 | +279.8% |
| 18. | Croatia | $2,246,463,000 | +153.4% |
| 19. | Portugal | $2,228,296,000 | +73.1% |
| 20. | Slovenia | $2,058,716,000 | +98% |
| 21. | Thailand | $2,029,393,000 | +1.4% |
| 22. | Czech Republic | $1,573,456,000 | +40.4% |
| 23. | Estonia | $1,478,502,000 | +91.6% |
| 24. | Brazil | $1,453,747,000 | -49.4% |
| 25. | Latvia | $1,349,480,000 | +164.5% |
| 26. | Sweden | $1,018,464,000 | +27.7% |
| 27. | Greece | $988,612,000 | +158.4% |
| 28. | Hong Kong | $882,286,000 | +3.1% |
| 29. | Argentina | $773,251,000 | +152.7% |
| 30. | Canada | $737,388,000 | +45.9% |
| 31. | North Macedonia | $620,043,000 | +90.3% |
| 32. | Bangladesh | $537,678,000 | +16.8% |
| 33. | Türkiye | $476,547,000 | +782.3% |
| 34. | Macao | $469,333,000 | -5.9% |
| 35. | Serbia | $414,163,000 | +149.8% |
| 36. | Morocco | $387,260,000 | +748.6% |
| 37. | Ireland | $381,478,000 | -1.3% |
| 38. | Cambodia | $332,592,000 | +51% |
| 39. | Bulgaria | $324,404,000 | +30.4% |
| 40. | South Africa | $316,363,000 | +8.1% |
| 41. | China | $289,105,000 | +16.4% |
| 42. | Mexico | $264,976,000 | +133.3% |
| 43. | Montenegro | $220,296,000 | +212.9% |
| 44. | Malta | $216,262,000 | +135.7% |
| 45. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $206,898,000 | +57.6% |
| 46. | Zimbabwe | $204,328,000 | +34.3% |
| 47. | Tunisia | $182,737,000 | +244.3% |
| 48. | Mongolia | $182,279,000 | +13.8% |
| 49. | Ukraine | $172,397,000 | +97.7% |
| 50. | Vietnam | $171,715,000 | +91.5% |
| 51. | Afghanistan | $155,300,000 | +4% |
| 52. | Moldova | $152,529,000 | +1870% |
| 53. | Kazakhstan | $143,267,000 | +65.8% |
| 54. | Burkina Faso | $136,908,000 | -6.7% |
| 55. | Guatemala | $128,153,000 | +38.9% |
| 56. | Uzbekistan | $121,862,000 | -10.8% |
| 57. | Mozambique | $120,417,000 | -44.6% |
| 58. | Botswana | $97,871,000 | -31.5% |
| 59. | El Salvador | $97,108,000 | +0.1% |
| 60. | Russia | $81,398,000 | +220.6% |
| 61. | Andorra | $75,732,000 | +90% |
| 62. | Kyrgyzstan | $73,526,000 | +637.8% |
| 63. | Togo | $71,931,000 | 0% |
| 64. | Niger | $70,255,000 | +15.6% |
| 65. | Syria | $67,614,000 | +192.1% |
| 66. | Indonesia | $56,176,000 | -27.6% |
| 67. | Eswatini | $55,477,000 | -33.4% |
| 68. | Pakistan | $49,112,000 | +25.8% |
| 69. | Georgia | $48,171,000 | -10.8% |
| 70. | Lesotho | $43,097,000 | -4.2% |
| 71. | Laos | $34,794,000 | -48.5% |
| 72. | Kenya | $32,214,000 | +279.5% |
| 73. | Ecuador | $27,690,000 | +500.8% |
| 74. | Singapore | $24,002,000 | 0% |
| 75. | Myanmar | $23,572,000 | +70.4% |
| 76. | Jordan | $19,435,000 | -41.3% |
| 77. | Tajikistan | $16,439,000 | -1.8% |
| 78. | Palestine | $16,180,000 | -97.4% |
| 79. | Honduras | $13,894,000 | 0% |
| 80. | Colombia | $12,073,000 | +64.6% |
| 81. | India | $9,528,000 | +154.4% |
| 82. | Armenia | $7,124,000 | -56.2% |
| 83. | Azerbaijan | $5,130,000 | -15.5% |
| 84. | Democr. Rep. Congo | $2,820,000 | +22.1% |
| 85. | Uganda | $2,728,000 | +18.8% |
| 86. | Zambia | $1,754,000 | 0% |
| 87. | Malaysia | $900,000 | -58.3% |
| 88. | Peru | $811,000 | 0% |
| 89. | Iraq | $748,000 | -98.3% |
| 90. | Uruguay | $464,000 | -88.7% |
| 91. | Ivory Coast | $176,000 | +17500% |
| 92. | Sierra Leone | $152,000 | 0% |
| 93. | North Korea | $43,000 | -2.3% |
| 94. | United Arab Emirates | $27,000 | 0% |
| 95. | Turkmenistan | $16,000 | +77.8% |
| 96. | Cuba | $16,000 | 0% |
| 97. | Mali | $13,000 | -100% |
| 98. | Ethiopia | $6,000 | 0% |
| 99. | Oman | $5,000 | -93.7% |
| 100. | South Sudan | $3,000 | 0% |
| 101. | Angola | $2,000 | 0% |
| 102. | Belarus | $2,000 | 0% |
| 103. | Cameroon | $1,000 | 0% |
| 104. | Iceland | $1,000 | 0% |
Expanding the focus to encompass all importers of electricity, the fastest-growing buyers of imported electricity were Ivory Coast (up 17,500% from 2021), Moldova (up 1,870%), Türkiye (up 782.3%), Morocco (up 748.6%), Kyrgyzstan (up 637.8%), Ecuador (up 500.8%) then world-leading electricity importers France (up 320.2%).
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the above table’s columns. An entry of 0% in the right-most column means that 2022 data was unavailable.
See also Electricity Exports by Country, Italy’s Top Trading Partners, Germany’s Top Trading Partners, France’s Top Trading Partners and United Kingdom’s Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on October 29, 2023
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on October 29, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 29, 2023
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on October 29, 2023