Gazprom Export Soared

The export volume of Russia?s Gazprom, the world?s number one natural gas producer, rose 11 percent in the first half of this year due to higher demand for the fuel in Europe.

Exports rose to 87.9 billion cubic meters from 79.2 bcm in the year-earlier period, Gazprom's export unit, Gazexport, said Thursday in a statement.

Deliveries to Western Europe rose 5.3 percent to 57.4 bcm. Exports to Eastern Europe rose 2.7 percent to 22.9 bcm, Gazexport said. Sales to former Soviet states nearly tripled to 7.6 bcm, from 2.4 bcm.