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EU imports record Russian LNG to front-load ahead of 2027 ban
EU LNG purchases from Russia rose 16% year over year in the first half of 2026, reaching 9.97 million metric tons, helped by supply disruptions in the Middle East.
The European Union imported a record 9.97 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas from Russia’s Yamal LNG facility in the first half of 2026, spending about €5.96 billion, according to data cited by OilPrice.
That volume was up 16% versus the same period in 2025, and EU buyers took in more than 97% of Yamal’s total output during the period, the outlet said.
OilPrice attributed the shift to the EU’s strategy of front-loading Russian energy supplies ahead of upcoming restrictions under the REPowerEU Gas Regulation. The ban on short term Russian LNG imports took effect on April 25, 2026.
The outlet also pointed to Middle East supply bottlenecks, including blockades in the Strait of Hormuz and damage to Qatari infrastructure, which pushed European buyers to rely more on readily available Arctic gas. It added that exemptions under the regulation allow continued or accelerated intake before a broader blanket ban on Russian LNG starts January 1, 2027, with timing differences for short term and long term pipeline gas.
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