MOSCOW, November 11. /TASS/. Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to the European Union increased by 6.7% year-on-year in January-October 2026 and reached 17.43 bln cubic meters, according to TASS calculations based on data from European think tank Bruegel.

EU imports of Russian LNG totaled approximately 17.43 bln cubic meters in the first ten months of the year, compared with 16.33 bln cubic meters a year earlier. However, supplies declined significantly last month, falling by 28.4% to 975.22 mln cubic meters from 1.36 bln cubic meters in October 2025.

Europe’s total LNG imports in October 2026 amounted to approximately 12.19 bln cubic meters, compared with 13.16 bln cubic meters a year earlier. The Americas (the United States, Trinidad and Tobago) accounted for the largest share of supplies at 8.709 bln cubic meters, followed by Africa at 1.613 bln cubic meters, Russia at 975 mln cubic meters, and other countries at 892 mln cubic meters.

Russian LNG supplies to Europe

On January 26, the Council of the EU gave final approval to a complete ban on Russian LNG supplies to the EU starting January 1, 2027, and on pipeline gas supplies starting September 30, 2027. Meanwhile, the ban on LNG imports under short-term contracts took effect on April 25, 2026, while short-term contracts for pipeline gas supplies were required to end by June 17, 2026.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that, given the European Union’s intention to completely phase out Russian gas, Russia could itself initiate an early withdrawal from the European market and redirect supplies to other, more interested buyers.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Russian companies would redirect some LNG supplies from Europe to friendly countries, including China, India, Thailand, and the Philippines, without waiting for further restrictions from the European Union.