Spain has resumed imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in October, despite having phased out such purchases in September. The country imported 138,000 metric tonnes of Russian LNG last month, according to a report by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). This resumption comes as the European Union (EU) prepares for a complete ban on Russian LNG imports starting January 2027.
The CREA report suggests that companies are likely maximizing Russian LNG imports under existing long-term contracts before the ban takes effect. This trend has been observed across the EU, with the bloc importing 20% more LNG from Russia's Arctic Yamal facility in 2026 compared to the entire year of 2025. However, imports have been concentrated in the first half of 2026, with countries like Belgium eliminating Russian LNG from their supply chains.
France remains a significant importer of Russian LNG due to a prepaid contract that will end with the EU ban. Meanwhile, Hungary and Slovakia continue to be the top importers of Russian fossil fuels in the EU, as they remain connected to Russian pipelines. The EU's ban on gas imports via pipeline is set to take effect from November 1, 2027.
The CREA report also highlights a surge in the number of shadow fleet ships flying under a Russian flag, which has more than tripled since the previous October. These vessels help Russia export fossil fuels and evade sanctions. Analyst Isaac Levi notes that the expansion of Russia’s own flag registry is an increasingly important tool for evading sanctions and avoiding scrutiny.