# US-EU trade divergence and EU phase-out of Russian energy > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-eu-trade-divergence-in-russian-fertilizer > Updated: 2026-10-09T13:04:24.000Z. Sources: 26. Developments: 5. Trade patterns for Russian fertilizer have diverged significantly between the United States and the European Union. In the first five months of 2026, the United States saw a 28 percent increase in Russian fertilizer imports compared to the previous year, reaching $1.04 billion. Conversely, EU imports fell to €297.9 million in the first half of 2026, down from €1.16 billion in 2025. As the EU seeks to reduce reliance on Russian and Belarusian fertilizers, it is also accelerating its phase-out of Russian energy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has outlined a timeline to completely phase out imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027. She noted that the share of Russian gas in total EU natural gas imports has already dropped from 45% to 12%. Under the proposed schedule, the EU intends to implement a total ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) starting January 1, 2027, followed by a complete cessation of Russian pipeline gas imports by the autumn of 2027. Despite these phase-out efforts, data from the activist group Urgewald indicates that the EU spent approximately 7.88 billion euros on Russian LNG from Arctic fields during the first nine months of 2026. This represents a 9.5% increase in volume compared to the previous year, with 12.18 million tonnes arriving at European ports. Much of this supply originates from the Yamal project, with France receiving nearly three-quarters of these deliveries in September. This continued flow is permitted under current regulations, as the total ban on Russian LNG does not take effect until 2027. ## Claims - The EU plans to reduce Russian gas imports to zero by the end of next year (disputed by 4 sources) - The EU will ban imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) starting January 1, 2027 (disputed by 2 sources) - The EU will completely stop importing Russian pipeline gas by the autumn of 2027 (disputed) - EU gas imports from Russia have fallen from 45% to 12% (corroborated by 4 sources) - Gas prices have increased by 140% since the end of February (corroborated by 2 sources) - Diesel fuel prices have doubled since the end of February (corroborated by 2 sources) - Imported fossil fuels have cost Europe an additional 100 billion euros since the start of the war (corroborated by 2 sources) - Over 70% of EU electricity comes from domestic clean energy, including renewables and nuclear (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-09: European Union spent 7.88 billion euros on Russian LNG in nine months The EU spent 7.88 billion euros on Russian Arctic LNG in the first nine months of 2026, with imports reaching a record 12.18 million tonnes despite ongoing efforts to reduce energy dependency. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-union-spent-788-billion-euros-on-russian-lng-in-nine-months ### 2026-10-06: European Union to end Russian gas imports by 2027 The European Union plans to end all Russian gas imports by 2027, with a ban on LNG starting in January 2027 and pipeline gas following in autumn, according to Ursula von der Leyen. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-union-aims-to-end-russian-gas-imports ### 2026-09-22: European Union moves to phase out Russian gas and fertilizer imports The EU aims to end Russian LNG and pipeline gas imports by 2027, while simultaneously introducing trade barriers on Russian and Belarusian fertilizers to reduce energy and agricultural dependency. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-union-moves-to-phase-out-russian-gas-and-fertilizer-imports ### 2026-09-03: European Union suspends fertilizer tariffs to curb agricultural costs The EU has suspended fertilizer tariffs for one year to lower agricultural costs, but Russia remains excluded from the measure, prompting calls from German politicians to ease sanctions. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-union-suspends-fertilizer-tariffs-to-curb-agricultural-costs ### 2026-09-02: United States hits record Russian fertilizer imports as EU imports drop The U.S. has increased its Russian fertilizer imports to a record $1.04 billion for Jan-May 2026, while EU imports of the same product have plummeted by nearly three-quarters compared to the previous year. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-states-hits-record-russian-fertilizer-imports-as-eu-imports-drop --- Cite as: US-EU trade divergence and EU phase-out of Russian energy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-eu-trade-divergence-in-russian-fertilizer