EU Imports Record Volume of Russian LNG Before Ban

European Union countries imported a record 9.89 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas from Russia’s Yamal LNG project in the first half of 2026, an increase of 18% from the same period last year. Europe thus bought nearly all the output of Russia’s largest LNG plant just months before an import ban is due to take effect.

According to analytics firm Kpler, the largest buyers were France, with 3.6 million metric tons, Belgium, with 2.9 million metric tons, and Spain, with 2.7 million metric tons. The non-governmental organization Urgewald estimates that the EU paid approximately €6bn ($6.9bn) for the shipments.

An EU ban on Russian LNG imports under long-term contracts will take effect on 1 January 2027. A full ban on Russian pipeline gas is due to follow in autumn 2027, forcing Russia to seek new markets for its energy exports.

Yamal LNG, controlled by Russian energy company Novatek, relies heavily on European ports, specialized icebreaking tankers and shipping services. While shipments to Europe increased, deliveries to Asia fell by 74% in the first half of the year to approximately 510,000 metric tons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin opened the plant in 2017. France’s TotalEnergies and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) also hold stakes in the project.

(ft, bak)