The European Union imported a record 9.89 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas from Russia’s Yamal LNG facility in the first half of 2026.
The volume represents almost the entirety of the Siberian project’s production capacity, highlighting the bloc’s continued reliance on Russian gas supplies despite the scheduled implementation of a complete embargo.
This surge in specific project volumes aligns with broader trade data showing Russian LNG deliveries to the EU climbed 17% year-on-year in the first six months of the year, reaching approximately 13.
This surge in specific project volumes aligns with broader trade data showing Russian LNG deliveries to the EU climbed 17% year-on-year in the first six months of the year, reaching approximately 13.4 billion cubic meters.
The increase marks a significant expansion in trade flows that defies the bloc’s broader sanctions regime and underscores the persistent structural demand for Russian gas in European markets.
The data points to a complex dynamic where political objectives to reduce energy dependence are colliding with immediate supply realities.
As the embargo deadline approaches, the record uptake from Yamal suggests that European buyers are securing available volumes ahead of potential restrictions, potentially reshaping global gas flows and pricing dynamics in the short term.