European Union countries have significantly raised their imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) during the first quarter of 2026, according to a report by Financial Times citing data from the analytical firm Kpler.
From January to March, the EU accounted for 97% of all purchases from the Russian Yamal LNG project, owned by Novatek. Approximately 5 million tons of LNG were shipped to the EU, marking a 17% increase compared to the same period last year. Key destination ports included Zeebrugge in Belgium, Mantua in Italy, Dunkirk in France, Bilbao in Spain, and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The total value of these shipments is estimated to have exceeded $3 billion.
In March, as Qatar reduced its LNG exports due to military operations by Israel and the United States against Iran, 1.5 million tons of Russian gas were delivered to the EU.
This uptick in imports occurs despite the EU’s stated intention to completely phase out Russian gas, including LNG, by 2027. The European Commission has reiterated that, despite a contraction in global supply and rising fuel prices, there are no plans to alter its strategy regarding Russian gas imports.
The EU's LNG imports from Russia have surged in early 2026, despite ongoing plans to eliminate such imports by 2027. This increase is notable amidst geopolitical tensions and market fluctuations.