ALGIERS- Algeria's natural gas exports to Europe increased significantly in the first quarter of this year from the same period in 2020, state energy firm Sonatrach said on Tuesday.

The country's share of the Italian gas market rose to 35% in the quarter, from 16% a year earlier, as its supplies rose 109% to 6.4 billion cubic metres, Sonatrach said in a statement.

The OPEC member's share of Spain and Portugal's markets was rose to 47% from 21% respectively, with sales totalling 4.3 billion cubic metres, up 122% from the first quarter of 2020, it said.

(Reporting by Hamid Ould Ahmed Editing by David Goodman) ((hamid.ouldahmed@thomsonreuters.com;))