MOSCOW, July 3. /TASS/. Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to the European Union rose 17% year-on-year in January-June 2026, exceeding 13 bcm, according to TASS calculations based on data from the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel.
In the first half of the year, EU imports of Russian LNG totaled approximately 13.4 bcm, up from 11.4 bcm a year earlier. In June alone, Russian LNG deliveries to Europe reached 2.17 bcm, down 4.3% from May but up 10% compared to June last year.
According to Bruegel, Europe’s total LNG imports in June plummeted to their lowest level since November 2024, standing at 9.9 bcm. In January-June, LNG purchases by EU nations slipped 2.5% to 72.7 bcm.
LNG shipments to the EU from the Americas (the United States and Trinidad and Tobago) slid 18% month-on-month in June to 5.8 bcm. In January-June, European gas imports from these countries edged up 3% to 44.8 bcm.
Since the beginning of the year, Africa has supplied around 8.4 bcm of LNG to Europe, while Middle Eastern deliveries stood at 2.6 bcm, plunging 61% amid the ongoing regional conflict.
Russian LNG supplies to Europe
In late January, the EU Council finalized a ban on Russian LNG imports starting January 1, 2027, and on pipeline gas from September 30, 2027. However, some restrictions took effect earlier. LNG imports under short-term contracts were banned as of April 25, 2026, while short-term pipeline gas supply contracts had to be wound down by June 17, 2026.
In 2025, Russian LNG deliveries to the EU dipped 5.6% to 20.3 bcm. Overall, Russia ranked as the EU's fourth-largest gas supplier in 2025 with 38 bcm, trailing Norway, the US, and Algeria.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that, given the European Union's intent to phase out Russian gas entirely, Moscow could initiate an early exit from the European market and redirect volumes to other, more interested buyers.