EU ramps up Russian LNG imports ahead of 2027 ban
In the first half of 2026 the European Union imported a record 9.89 million tonnes of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Yamal LNG project, representing about 97 % of the plant’s output and a 16‑18 % increase over the same period a year earlier. The surge was driven mainly by France, Belgium and Spain, while Hungary and Slovakia continued to receive pipeline gas via TurkStream under limited exemptions. The EU plans to end all commercial energy trade with Russia by 2027, with a ban on Russian LNG taking effect on 1 January 2027 and a ban on pipeline gas on 30 September 2027. Short‑term contracts for Russian LNG and pipeline gas were already prohibited from 25 April 2026 and 17 June 2026 respectively.
At the same time, Europe’s gas storage facilities are only about 55 % full, the lowest level for this time of year since 2021, raising concerns about the upcoming winter season. Competition with Asian buyers and geopolitical tensions have also pressured LNG supplies, with European imports projected to fall to roughly 6.3 million tonnes in July, the lowest since September 2024. These factors increase the risk of higher energy prices and supply strain during colder months.
Entities: Belgium · European Union · France · Russia · Yamal LNG
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] EU imports of Russian LNG rose by 16‑18 % in early 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
- [● 2 SOURCES] European gas storage facilities were about 55 % full, the lowest level since 2021.
- [● 2 SOURCES] France, Belgium and Spain were the largest European importers of Russian LNG in early 2026.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The European Union aims to end all commercial energy trade with Russia by 2027.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Short‑term contracts for Russian LNG were prohibited from 25 April 2026 and for pipeline gas from 17 June 2026.
- [● 2 SOURCES] In the first half of 2026 the EU imported 9.89 million tonnes of Russian LNG from Yamal, about 97 % of the plant’s total output.
- [● 2 SOURCES] A ban on Russian LNG imports will take effect on 1 January 2027.
- [● 2 SOURCES] European LNG imports were projected to fall to roughly 6.3 million tonnes in July, the lowest since September 2024.