Filenews 14 March 2023
The largest share in the market of a Member State by the largest energy production company is recorded for 2021 in Cyprus (88%) due to the dominance of EAC, according to Eurostat data, while at the same time a decrease in the share of the national market is recorded for the largest electricity and gas companies in most countries of the European Union.
Eurostat data reflect trends since 2013 when data collection began.
The market share indicator captures how much energy the largest company in a national network provides in a particular market. As Eurostat notes, the largest shares refer to a monopoly or an oligopoly on the market.
The largest share of the market of a Member State by the largest energy production company is recorded for 2021 in Cyprus (88%) due to the dominance of EAC. It is worth noting that EAC holds the first place since 2013 among the largest energy companies in each country, with its percentage being over 90% over time.
After Cyprus, the highest percentages for 2021 were recorded by the largest electricity producers in France (79%), Croatia (76%) and Estonia (64%).
The smallest share of the national market, less than 20%, was held by the largest electricity producers in Poland, Lithuania and Italy (17% in all three) as well as in Sweden (19%).
The largest increase in market share from 2020 to 2021 was recorded in Ireland (+32%) and the largest decrease was recorded in Portugal (-32%).
The increase in the share refers to an increase in market concentration, for example following a merger of large companies. On the other hand, the decline in the share points to a decrease in market concentration.
In Cyprus, EAC's market share decreased slightly compared to the previous year, from 89.92% in 2020 (almost 90%) to 88.03% in 2021.
Among the remaining Member States, a total of 15 recorded little variation, below 10%, between 2020 and 2021.
Compared to 2013, the market share of the largest electricity producer had decreased in most Member States, with the largest decrease recorded in Luxembourg following the liberalisation of the electricity market (-39 percentage points, pp) and Slovakia (-20 pp).
The lowest decreases compared to 2013 were recorded in Bulgaria (-1 am) and Finland (-4 am).
Market share has stagnated over the last decade in Sweden (19%) and Poland (17%) while increasing in Hungary (+10 am), Romania (+3 am) and Spain (+2 am).
In Cyprus, EAC's market share decreased by 5 am compared to 2013, when it stood at 93%.
Reduction in the share in natural gas
In terms of gas imports and production, the largest market share of the largest company in 2021 was 100% in Estonia, Malta and Sweden, where a single organisation dominates the sector.
It is worth noting, however, that only 2.3% of the gross available energy in Sweden is produced using natural gas. In the case of Malta, it is considered that as it is a small market it is expected that one organization is sufficient to meet the needs.
The smallest share of the largest gas importing and producing company was recorded in 2021 in Ireland (22%) and the Czech Republic (23%).
Cyprus, it is recalled, is the only country in the EU that does not use natural gas. Data for 2021 were also not available for Denmark, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria and Finland (or the data is confidential).
Compared to 2020, the largest decrease in the market share of the largest company was recorded in Croatia (-45%) and the Czech Republic (-38%), as the number of main gas importing or producing companies for the national markets increased from 5 to 6 in the Czech Republic and from 3 to 5 in Croatia.
Compared to 2013, the market share of the largest gas company decreased in 14 of the Member States for which data were available in 2021.
The largest falls were recorded in Greece (-61 am), Latvia (-54 am) and Czechia (-46 am).
The corresponding figure remained unchanged in Sweden (100%), while it increased in four Member States, namely Lithuania (+22 am), Estonia (+16 am), Slovakia (+13 am) and Belgium (+7 am).
