European Union purchases of Russian natural gas, both pipeline and liquefied, dropped 10% in the first five months of 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to Eurostat data analyzed by TASS.
The bloc spent €2.4 billion on pipeline gas and €3.7 billion on LNG between January and May, with France, Spain, and Belgium emerging as the primary importers.
The International Energy Agency reported that Russia increased pipeline gas deliveries to the EU by 5% in the first half of 2026, adding 0.
The aggregate decline masks a recent uptick in flows.
EU expenditure on Russian gas reached €1.5 billion in May alone, the highest monthly spend in nearly a year and a half. This late-spring surge helped offset earlier reductions, though the year-to-date total remains below the prior year’s level.
The data aligns with broader supply trends.
The International Energy Agency reported that Russia increased pipeline gas deliveries to the EU by 5% in the first half of 2026, adding 0.4 billion cubic meters to shipments. Despite the volume increase, the value of imports has softened, suggesting price dynamics or mix shifts are influencing the total spend.