EU Imports Record Amount of Yamal LNG Amid Phaseout Plans

The European Union's imports of Yamal LNG have surpassed last year's total, even as the bloc prepares to phase out Russian energy imports.

According to an analysis by German environmental group Urgewald using Kpler shipping data, EU countries paid an estimated €7.28 billion for LNG from Russia's Yamal project between January 1 and September 5, slightly more than the €7.2 billion estimated for all of 2025.

The increase in imports reflects both higher European gas prices and a rise in shipments to EU ports. During the first eight months of 2026, EU ports received 156 Yamal LNG cargoes carrying about 11.39 million tonnes, up 10.1% from the same period last year.

The trend underscores the continued importance of Europe to Russia's Arctic LNG trade despite the EU's broader push to move away from Russian energy.