European Union (EU) countries set a record for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Russia in the first half of 2025.
According to data from real-time data analytics company Kpler, EU countries imported approximately 9.9 million tonnes of LNG from Russia's Yamal LNG facility in the January-June period, with a total of 136 cargoes.
This figure represents an increase of approximately 18 percent compared to the same period last year and marks the highest level ever recorded.
More than 97 percent of shipments from the Yamal LNG facility in the first half of the year were directed to EU ports. The largest importers were France with approximately 3.6 million tonnes, Belgium with 2.9 million tonnes, and Spain with 2.7 million tonnes.
According to calculations, the value of the EU's purchases from Yamal LNG during the period in question reached approximately 6 billion euros.
Russian energy company Novatek, which holds the majority stake in the Yamal LNG project, is at the center of this trade.
The EU had decided to phase out Russian gas imports to reduce the energy revenues of Russia, which is at war with Ukraine. As part of this effort, the Union banned imports of Russian LNG under short-term contracts starting in April. Purchases under long-term contracts will end on January 1, 2027. Furthermore, imports of pipeline gas from Russia will be completely halted by the end of September 2027.