Europe Boosts Russian LNG Imports Ahead of 2027 Ban
Despite public statements about severing economic ties with Russia, Europe's imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Russian Arctic 'Yamal LNG' project have surged ahead of a looming ban in 2027.
According to an investigation by the German NGO Urgewald, European companies Seapeak and Dynagas dominated the Arctic shipping network, accounting for 72% of all LNG exports from the Yamal Peninsula.
The figures show that purchases rose by 10.1% in the first eight months of this year compared to the same period in 2025, with a total value of €7.28 billion already exceeding last year's figure of €7.3 billion.
Operational data from Kpler reveals that European ports accounted for 88.9% of total global exports from Yamal between January and September this year, up from 78.2% in 2025.
Kpler analyst Charles Kosterruz noted that most volumes are being supplied under existing long-term contracts, as the purchase of LNG under short-term contracts was banned in April this year.