Imports surged 16% in Q1 2026 amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to industry think-tank IEEFA
The EU’s imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) has reached a record high this year, amid the growing energy crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to a report by a US-based energy think tank.
The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) reports that the bloc’s imports jumped 16% year on year in January-March, with France, Spain, and Belgium accounting for most deliveries. Russia remains the EU’s second-largest LNG supplier, despite the bloc aiming to phase out Russian fossil fuels by 2027, it noted.
EU countries spent €5.9 billion ($6.9 billion) on Russian pipeline gas and €6.7 billion on Russian LNG in 2025, according to the report. Russia accounted for about 13% of the EU’s combined natural gas and LNG imports in 2025, according to previous data.
IEEFA said that the rise in imports was partly driven by disruptions in global LNG markets linked to reduced maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which curtailed Qatari exports and increased the EU’s reliance on other major suppliers.
“The war in the Middle East has left Europe more reliant on its two largest LNG suppliers, the US and Russia,” said Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz, lead energy analyst at IEEFA.
The report said that the EU is risking a dependence on American LNG as Washington looks set to overtake Norway as the bloc’s largest gas supplier in 2026 and could account for 80% of EU LNG imports by 2028. American LNG is on average the most expensive for European buyers, the report added.
The latest developments have prompted some EU politicians to step up calls to reconsider sanctions on Russia. Despite growing political pressure over energy costs, however, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen has insisted the bloc will continue phasing out Russian LNG imports and expand purchases from alternative suppliers, including the US.
Moscow, meanwhile, has argued that European countries will eventually be forced to restore energy ties with Russia. Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev said EU policy under what he called “Russophobic politicians” risked deindustrializing the bloc.
15 thoughts on “EU buys record volumes of Russian LNG – report”
In other words moscow, meanwhile, has argued that European countries will eventually be forced to restore energy ties with Russia. Curious to see how this develops.
If moscow, meanwhile, has argued that European countries will eventually be forced to restore energy ties with Russia, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
If the latest developments have prompted some EU politicians to step up calls to reconsider sanctions on Russia, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
Basically eU countries spent €5.9 billion ($6.9 billion) on Russian pipeline gas and €6.7 billion on Russian LNG in 2025, according to the report. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
If imports surged 16% in Q1 2026 amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to industry think-tank, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
The fact that moscow, meanwhile, has argued that European countries will eventually be forced to restore energy ties with Russia really puts things into perspective.
If “The war in the Middle East has left Europe more reliant on its two largest LNG suppliers, the US and Russia,” said Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz, lead energy analyst at IEEFA, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
Considering eU countries spent €5.9 billion ($6.9 billion) on Russian pipeline gas and €6.7 billion on Russian LNG in 2025, according to the report, it raises some real questions about what happens next.
On one hand imports surged 16% in Q1 2026 amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to industry think-tank. But at the same time eU countries spent €5.9 billion ($6.9 billion) on Russian pipeline gas and €6.7 billion on Russian LNG in 2025, according to the report.
On one hand “The war in the Middle East has left Europe more reliant on its two largest LNG suppliers, the US and Russia,” said Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz, lead energy analyst at IEEFA. But at the same time the latest developments have prompted some EU politicians to step up calls to reconsider sanctions on Russia.
The fact that eU countries spent €5.9 billion ($6.9 billion) on Russian pipeline gas and €6.7 billion on Russian LNG in 2025, according to the report really puts things into perspective.
In other words moscow, meanwhile, has argued that European countries will eventually be forced to restore energy ties with Russia. Curious to see how this develops.
If moscow, meanwhile, has argued that European countries will eventually be forced to restore energy ties with Russia, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
If the latest developments have prompted some EU politicians to step up calls to reconsider sanctions on Russia, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
Reading that imports surged 16% in Q1 2026 amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to industry think-tank — hard to argue with the logic there.
Basically eU countries spent €5.9 billion ($6.9 billion) on Russian pipeline gas and €6.7 billion on Russian LNG in 2025, according to the report. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
If imports surged 16% in Q1 2026 amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to industry think-tank, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
The fact that moscow, meanwhile, has argued that European countries will eventually be forced to restore energy ties with Russia really puts things into perspective.
If “The war in the Middle East has left Europe more reliant on its two largest LNG suppliers, the US and Russia,” said Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz, lead energy analyst at IEEFA, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
Still waiting to hear what Financial Analysis actually plans to do about it.
Considering eU countries spent €5.9 billion ($6.9 billion) on Russian pipeline gas and €6.7 billion on Russian LNG in 2025, according to the report, it raises some real questions about what happens next.
On one hand imports surged 16% in Q1 2026 amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to industry think-tank. But at the same time eU countries spent €5.9 billion ($6.9 billion) on Russian pipeline gas and €6.7 billion on Russian LNG in 2025, according to the report.
The detail about imports surged 16% in Q1 2026 amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to industry think-tank is something people should sit with.
On one hand “The war in the Middle East has left Europe more reliant on its two largest LNG suppliers, the US and Russia,” said Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz, lead energy analyst at IEEFA. But at the same time the latest developments have prompted some EU politicians to step up calls to reconsider sanctions on Russia.
The fact that eU countries spent €5.9 billion ($6.9 billion) on Russian pipeline gas and €6.7 billion on Russian LNG in 2025, according to the report really puts things into perspective.
Energy Economics has been vocal about this, good to see them staying on it.