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, capturing almost the entirety of the Siberian project’s production capacity.
This volume represents a significant consolidation of European demand for Russian Arctic LNG, even as broader energy security concerns persist across the continent.
Russian LNG deliveries to the EU climbed 17% year-on-year in the first six months of 2026, reaching approximately 13.
Russian LNG deliveries to the EU climbed 17% year-on-year in the first six months of 2026, reaching approximately 13.4 billion cubic meters.
The surge highlights the structural shift in European gas sourcing, where pipeline flows have been largely replaced by liquefied cargoes, with Yamal emerging as a dominant supplier.
The data suggests that European buyers have prioritized supply security and competitive pricing over political considerations, locking in long-term contracts that ensure steady flows from the Arctic project.
This development complicates the narrative of a complete European decoupling from Russian energy.