EU countries imported record amount of gas from Russia's Yamal LNG

European Union countries have imported a record amount of liquefied natural gas from Russia's Yamal LNG facility in the first half of 2026. The imports totaled 9.89 million tons, an 18% increase compared to the first six months of 2025, according to data from the analytics firm Kpler.

This surge in gas purchases could have cost European nations as much as 6 billion euros, as reported by the non-governmental organization Urgewald. France emerged as the largest buyer, acquiring 3.6 million tons, followed by Belgium with 2.9 million tons, and Spain with 2.7 million tons.

While current EU rules prohibit the purchase of Russian LNG under short-term contracts, requiring customs approval for each shipment to confirm it's part of a long-term agreement, a significant shift is on the horizon. By January 1, 2027, the EU will ban imports of Russian LNG under long-term contracts, compelling Russia to find new markets and export routes. A further ban on pipeline gas imports from Russia is scheduled for later in 2027.

Interestingly, while European imports from Yamal LNG rose, exports to Asia plummeted by 74% to 510,000 tons. This decline, typically expected to increase in summer, is partly attributed to concerns among international shipping, insurance, and finance companies regarding potential risks associated with EU sanctions, according to sources familiar with the situation. The Yamal LNG plant, opened by Vladimir Putin in 2017, has a nominal capacity of 17.4 million tons per year, though it has historically supplied even more.

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For such an amount of LNG, European countries could have paid Russia up to 6 billion euros.