Europe’s estimated bill from importing Russian LNG in Q3 is around €1.92 billion (£1.6bn), according to new data analysis.
The data, compiled by German eco campaign group Urgewald, shows that EU ports received 9.8% more tonnes of LNG Jan-Sept, compared to last year.
Europe has remained the biggest market for the Russian Yamal project, receiving 85% of the projects deliveries by volume. By contrast, global deliveries from the project have fallen 1.3% while Europe’s imports have risen.
Sebastian Rötters, Sanctions Campaigner at Urgewald, said: “The EU has imported more than 12 million tonnes of Yamal LNG this year, worth an estimated €7.88 billion. That is over 44,000 tonnes every day on average. Even after the summer slowdown, Europe has taken more than it did during the same period last year.
“Europe’s continued purchases give Russia a large, nearby market for its Arctic gas. They also give European governments significant power over this trade.
“But the continued flow of Yamal LNG into Europe exposes the limited impact of the measures adopted so far. The short-term contract ban has done little to disrupt the trade. Only the full import ban from 2027 will begin to put serious pressure on Russia’s LNG business.”
Technically, the EU has banned imports of Russian LNG but the ban is being phased in. On 25th April 2026, restrictions on existing short-term LNG contracts began applying. On 1st January 2027, the full import ban for Russian LNG under eligible existing long-term contracts is due to take effect. With only two months to go, there is a large import reduction to make.
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