European imports of Russian Yamal LNG rise despite planned EU ban

European buyers of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Yamal project increased their imports in 2026, despite the European Union's planned ban on Russian energy imports starting in January 2027.

According to calculations by the environmental organization Urgewald, European recipients received 156 LNG shipments totaling 11.39 million tonnes between January 1 and September 5, 2026. This represents a 10.1 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025. The value of these imports is estimated at approximately 7.28 billion euros, though Urgewald notes this figure is an estimate based on the European TTF reference price because contract prices remain confidential.

Europe's share of total global Yamal LNG exports rose from 78.2 percent to 88.9 percent. The largest recipients included France with 4.4 million tonnes, Spain with 2.7 million tonnes, Belgium with 3 million tonnes, and the Netherlands with 1.1 million tonnes. While short-term contracts have been prohibited since April 2026, long-term contracts remain valid until the 2027 deadline. Analysts suggest buyers may be maximizing existing contracts to secure stocks before the ban takes effect.