EU receives 12.89 million tonnes of Russian Arctic LNG before ban

The European Union spent an estimated €8.7 billion on Russian Arctic liquefied natural gas, or LNG, a fuel cooled for tanker shipment, in January-October 2026, Urgewald said in a Nov. 12 analysis reported by Euronews.

The bill was 21% above Urgewald’s estimate for all of 2025, as Brussels prepares to ban Russian LNG imports under existing long-term contracts from Jan. 1, 2027.

Urgewald analysed Kpler data showing EU ports received 12.89 million tonnes from Russia’s Yamal LNG project in the first 10 months of 2026, up 6.3% from a year earlier.

The campaign group said the EU accounted for 81% of Yamal’s recorded deliveries worldwide over the period. It estimated that Europe received a Yamal cargo about every 1.7 days.

“We can end Russian LNG imports on 1 January. But switching suppliers still leaves European households exposed to gas price spikes and political pressure from abroad,” Alexander Kirk, a sanctions campaigner at Urgewald, told Euronews.

Kirk said lower gas consumption would reduce exposure to suppliers. “Every home we insulate or switch to a heat pump cuts gas demand. Every time wind or solar replaces gas in the power grid, Europe cuts emissions and gives gas exporters less leverage.”

The reported increase reflects both higher volumes and higher gas prices. Euronews said October deliveries were 11% lower than in September, while their estimated value rose 2.6% to €839 million as the European gas benchmark reached €86.79 per megawatt-hour.

France received 70% of EU Yamal deliveries in October, according to the report. Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal were also listed as recipients, while Belgium remained the largest destination over January-October, with 42 cargoes and about 3.1 million tonnes unloaded at Zeebrugge.

The ban matters for Russia because Yamal depends on specialised Arc7 ice-class tankers, ships built to operate in icy waters. European ports are relatively close to the project, allowing shorter round trips than longer voyages to alternative markets.

Urgewald argues that losing EU access would weaken the economics of Russia’s Arctic LNG exports rather than simply shift the same volumes elsewhere. The report said the outcome will depend on Moscow’s ability to build alternative routes and markets.

Asian buyers accounted for 18.6% of Yamal deliveries between January and October, with China, South Korea and Taiwan listed as the largest recipients in the region. Euronews said questions remain over whether EU countries enforce the ban without exemptions or late concessions as winter approaches.

Atlas360 reported on Oct. 27 that EU gas prices had reached a four-year high as LNG disruption and low storage levels added pressure before winter.

Jan. 1 ban test

What to watch: on Jan. 1, 2027, the EU prohibition on Russian LNG imports under existing long-term contracts is due to take effect; the check is whether Yamal cargoes stop arriving at EU ports.

By Jan. 1, 2027, any exemptions or last-minute concessions would show a softer start to enforcement, the risk Euronews said remains open as winter approaches.

Source: Euronews report on Urgewald analysis of Kpler data, Nov. 12, 2026