Russia boosts LNG supplies to Europe by more than 18% in January-April

MOSCOW, May 13. /TASS/. Supplies of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the European Union in January-April 2026 totaled 8.98 bcm, increasing by 18.5%, according to TASS calculations based on data from the European analytical center Bruegel. In April alone, Europe imported 2.17 bcm of Russian LNG, increasing purchases by 15%. Russian LNG supplies to the European Union reached a historic high in March amid the suspension of shipments from the Middle East due to the military conflict and the entry into force of the ban on Russian LNG under short-term contracts, totaling 2.46 bcm. EU imports of Russian LNG in the first quarter amounted to about 6.8 bcm compared with 5.7 bcm a year earlier. Europe’s total LNG imports in January-April increased by 5.3% to 51.46 bcm. In April, Europe purchased 12.28 bcm of LNG, which was 8% below the level of April last year and 13% below the figure for March 2026, when imports reached a historic record of 14.1 bcm. LNG supplies to the EU from the American direction (the US and Trinidad and Tobago) totaled 8 bcm in April, down 2.5% from March levels. In January-April, Europe’s gas imports from these countries increased by more than 16% to 31.99 bcm.