Electricity.Trade’s May 2026 regional analysis shows that electricity import dependence is becoming more than a short-term market balancing issue. It is increasingly turning into a strategic challenge for industrial procurement, investment decisions and competitiveness. During May, Italy, Hungary, Croatia, Romania and Serbia remained net electricity importers, while Greece, Bulgaria and Türkiye recorded net export positions. This divide highlights a broader market shift: electricity sourcing is no longer determined only by price, but also by availability, traceability, volatility management and long-term supply security.
The scale of import reliance was significant across several Southeast European markets. Italy recorded 3,706.01 GWh of net imports, followed by Hungary with 1,076.31 GWh, Croatia with 583.90 GWh, Romania with 440.59 GWh and Serbia with 422.97 GWh. These volumes represent more than temporary adjustments and increasingly influence market exposure. In Croatia, net imports accounted for 43.78% of the electricity mix, while Hungary relied on imports for 29.97% and Italy for 17.97%. For large industrial consumers, this creates greater exposure to regional supply conditions, cross-border transmission constraints and neighbouring market price movements.
The growing importance of imports is also changing the way companies approach electricity contracts. Traditional fixed-price agreements may not fully capture the risks associated with suppliers that depend heavily on imported power, volatile day-ahead markets, congestion costs or gas-driven marginal pricing. Industrial buyers are increasingly looking for more transparent and flexible procurement structures that include clear information on supply origin, price exposure, balancing responsibilities, renewable content and carbon attributes.
This development is particularly important for CBAM-exposed industries and companies supplying European markets. Electricity consumption in manufacturing processes is becoming an increasingly important part of customer due diligence, carbon reporting and future competitiveness strategies. Export-oriented companies will require electricity contracts that are not only cost-effective but also traceable, verifiable and financially reliable. Renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs) will need strong metering systems, delivery verification and credible documentation to meet growing expectations from customers, investors and financial institutions.
May’s market data demonstrates why import dependence is becoming a central market theme. Electricity prices remained elevated across several import-reliant countries, with Italy averaging €119.35/MWh, Romania €109.56/MWh, Hungary €106.51/MWh, Croatia €103.58/MWh and Serbia €96.63/MWh. Although imports were not always the only reason for higher prices, they increased exposure to regional volatility and external market conditions.
According to Electricity.Trade, electricity import dependence should increasingly be viewed as a commercial and industrial risk factor rather than only a trading statistic. As Southeast Europe’s power markets become more interconnected, energy-intensive companies will need procurement strategies that combine price hedging, renewable sourcing, cross-border risk management and CBAM-ready documentation. The region is moving away from simple electricity purchasing toward a new model of verified, transparent and strategically managed electricity procurement.
