Belgium's Russian Gas Dependence Soars Amid Middle East Supply Crunch

Belgium's reliance on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) has reached an all-time high, with the country importing a total of 0.4 million tons from Russia in July alone. This marks a significant increase compared to previous years, with shipments dropping by over 40% in the same period.

The sudden surge in Russian LNG imports comes as war in the Middle East has severely disrupted alternative European supply routes, pushing prices higher and prompting importers to temporarily pause winter stockpiling. Belgian buyers have also turned to pipeline gas delivered from Norway and the United Kingdom, further solidifying their reliance on Russian energy.

The trend is not unique to Belgium, with EU member states importing a record 9.89 million metric tons of Russian LNG from the Yamal project in the first half of 2026 despite upcoming EU phase-out bans. Industry analysts have raised concerns over the feasibility of these bans if Middle Eastern shipping routes remain compromised, forcing European economies to choose between energy shortfalls and sanctions compliance.