Russian gas giant OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) said Monday that exports to its most lucrative market in Europe grew 16% last year to the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis.

Preliminary data show that exports to what Gazprom calls "far-abroad countries," which includes Europe and Turkey but excludes former Soviet republics, grew to 162.7 billion cubic meters last year, the company said in a statement.

"We continue to register an increase in demand for Russian gas in Europe also at the start of this year," Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller said in a statement.

Gazprom's profit slumped in 2012 due to increased competition and lower demand. But exports grew last year as European customers refilled stocks after a long, cold winter and deliveries of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, decreased.

Gazprom said it slightly increased overall gas production by 400 million cubic meters to 487.4 billion cubic meters.
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