EU Buys More Arctic Russian LNG in March Than Any Month on Record

EU imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) reached 2.46 billion cubic meters (bcm), or approximately 1.78 million metric tons, in March, according to data from think tank Bruegel. This is 38% more than during March 2025. 

It marks the highest monthly level ever recorded, with European buyers securing more Russian LNG than at any point in history. All imports come from the Arctic Yamal LNG plant.

The surge comes despite the EU’s stated goal of eliminating Russian fossil fuel imports. A ban on short-term contracts for Russian LNG is set to take effect on April 25, while long-term contracts will be prohibited starting January 1, 2027.

Yet in the run-up to these deadlines, European utilities and traders have been purchasing as much Russian LNG as possible.

Market dynamics have played a key role. A disruption to global LNG supplies – triggered by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and partial damage to Qatari export infrastructure – tightened availability and drove European buyers toward Russian cargoes as one of the few readily accessible alternatives.

The result has been a sharp increase in imports, particularly from Russia’s Arctic projects. During the first quarter of 2026, the EU absorbed around 97% of all cargoes from the Yamal LNG project, according to shipping data, highlighting the scale of dependence on Russian supply.

Produces more, buys more

At the same time, Russia has been ramping up production.

Russian LNG output rose to 3.3 million tons in March, an all-time monthly high, up 13.3% compared with March 2025 and 15.2% higher than in February 2026. For the first quarter as a whole, production totaled 6.2 million tons, a 7.3% increase year-on-year.

The rise in output was supported by stable exports from the Arctic LNG 2 project, which has continued to operate despite Western sanctions. Logistics were strengthened by the addition of a new Arc7 ice-class LNG carrier, the Alexey Kosygin, helping sustain flows along Arctic shipping routes.

Production gains came despite disruptions, including the loss of the LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz, which was destroyed in an attack by unmanned boats in the Mediterranean Sea in early March. Exports from Gazprom’s sanctioned Portovaya LNG plant were also restored during the month, contributing to overall supply.

The parallel trends point to a clear dynamic: as Russia produces more Arctic LNG, Europe is buying more of it.

Policy and market realities

Analysts say the record March import figure illustrates the gap between policy ambition and market reality. While the EU has pledged to reduce dependence on Russian energy, limited alternative supply and infrastructure constraints have made a rapid shift difficult.

“Europe remains structurally short of LNG in the near term,” one gas market analyst said. “When global supply is disrupted, Russian volumes remain among the most available and competitive.”

With new EU restrictions on Russian LNG contracts imminent, March may represent a peak in imports. However, the underlying drivers – tight global supply and strong European demand – suggest the relationship could persist in the short term.

For now, the data highlights a striking contradiction: even as Brussels prepares to curtail Russian LNG imports, EU buyers have just recorded their largest monthly purchases ever, while Russia simultaneously posts record production.