Russia increased its pipeline gas deliveries to the European Union by 5% in the first half of 2026, adding 0.4 billion cubic meters (bcm) to shipments, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Despite the volume growth, the agency noted that Russian piped gas now accounts for an estimated 8% of Europe's total gas demand, underscoring the continued structural shift away from Russian supply.
The data highlights the diverging trends in Russia's energy exports to Europe.
While pipeline flows have seen a slight uptick, likely due to seasonal demand patterns or specific bilateral agreements, the overall market share has contracted significantly.
This decline reflects the broader European strategy to diversify energy sources and reduce dependency on Russian fossil fuels following the geopolitical disruptions of recent years.
In contrast, Russia's liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to the EU have surged.