European Union countries have significantly increased their imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia amid the worsening energy crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
This is reported by Finway
Record Growth in Supplies from the Yamal LNG Plant
According to data from the analytical group Kpler, cited by the environmental organization Urgewald, in the first quarter of 2026, LNG imports from the Siberian Yamal LNG plant to EU countries rose by 17% compared to the same period last year. From January to March, European countries purchased about 5 million tons of gas. Notably, 97% of all shipments from Yamal were destined for the European Union: out of 71 dispatched cargoes, 69 were intended for European buyers. In March, the pace of deliveries noticeably increased.
According to Urgewald’s estimates, in the first quarter, European countries’ spending on purchasing Yamal LNG reached €2.88 billion, indicating the continued high dependence of the EU on Russian gas.
“European buyers have no desire to stop purchasing Russian LNG.”
Alternative Schemes for Asian Countries
At the same time, following the escalation of the situation in the Middle East, Russia began offering Asian countries alternative models for purchasing its LNG. According to sources close to the market, lesser-known Russian and Chinese intermediaries were offering gas at significant discounts – up to 40% off the standard price. This indicates Russia’s desire to diversify its sales markets amid increasing sanctions pressure and instability in the global energy market.