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EU Imports Record 9.9 Million Tons of Russian LNG in H1 2026 Despite Ban Plans
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European Union member states imported a record 9.89 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia’s Yamal LNG project during the first half of 2026, despite plans to phase out Russian gas imports beginning next year, according to Financial Times, citing data from commodity analytics firm Kpler.
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The figure marks an 18% increase compared with the same period in 2025 and comes months before the EU’s ban on Russian LNG imported under long-term contracts takes effect on January 1, 2027.
According to Financial Times, France, Belgium, and Spain accounted for the overwhelming majority of the purchases. Kpler data shows France imported 3.6 million metric tons, Belgium 2.9 million metric tons, and Spain 2.7 million metric tons during the first six months of the year.
Environmental organization Urgewald estimates that European buyers may have paid up to €6 billion for those deliveries.
Current EU rules already prohibit purchases of Russian LNG under short-term contracts. As Financial Times noted, each shipment entering the bloc must be certified by customs authorities as being supplied under a pre-existing long-term agreement.
Beginning on January 1, 2027, imports of Russian LNG under long-term contracts will also be banned. Later in 2027, the EU plans to prohibit imports of Russian pipeline gas as part of its broader effort to eliminate Russian fossil fuel imports.
According to Financial Times, European ports remain critical to the operation of the Yamal LNG project, located in Russia’s Arctic region. The facility relies on a limited fleet of Arc7 ice-class LNG carriers, which require rapid turnaround at European terminals.
While cargoes can also be shipped to Asia via the Northern Sea Route, that option is longer and carries greater operational risks.
At the same time, exports from Yamal LNG to Asian markets fell sharply. Kpler data cited by Financial Times indicates shipments to Asia declined by 74% in the first half of 2026, totaling just over 510,000 metric tons.
The newspaper reported that some international shipping companies, insurers, and financial institutions have reduced their involvement with the project because of concerns about potential exposure to EU sanctions.
Yamal LNG, launched in 2017, is Russia’s largest liquefied natural gas production facility, with a design capacity of 17.4 million metric tons per year. The project is controlled by Russian gas producer Novatek, while TotalEnergies of France and China’s CNPC also hold ownership stakes.
The latest import figures come as Russia’s energy sector faces growing pressure from Ukraine’s long-range drone campaign. According to Reuters, repeated Ukrainian strikes have disrupted operations at several of Russia’s largest oil refineries, reducing the country’s gasoline production to roughly 65% of seasonal demand after facilities including the Omsk, NORSI, and Saratov refineries were forced to suspend operations.
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