Europe boosts LNG trade ahead of the ban
During the first eight months of 2026, gas carriers made 156 shipments from the Yamal Peninsula to EU ports.
By 1 September, EU ports had received 156 shipments from the Yamal LNG, with a total cargo of 11.39 million tonnes, according to Urgewald, an environmental and human rights non-governmental organisation.
This trade represents a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2025, Urgewald reports.
European buyers spent more than €7 billion on the gas.
The deliveries to Europe constitute an overwhelming share of the plant’s output. The Yamal LNG has a production capacity of 17.4 million tonnes per year.
The boost in European acquisitions of Russian Arctic gas comes ahead of the upcoming EU ban on Russian LNG. From 1 January 2027, shipments from Yamal to European ports will come to a halt.
The EU ban will have major consequences for Novatek and the Russian LNG industry.
According to Alexander Kirk, Senior Campaign Manager and Strategic Communications Advisor at Urgewald, the EU should now add the carriers that bring LNG from Yamal to its sanctions list.
"Russia’s Arctic LNG trade is now more dependent on Europe. That gives EU governments leverage. The 22nd sanctions package should sanction the 14 Arc7 tankers and stop European ports and shipyards from keeping them operational," he says in a statement.
The 22nd sanctions package is expected to be on the agenda when EU leaders meet in Finland’s Lapland for a European Arctic Summit.
A significant number of the carriers are connected with European companies. Five of the tanker fleet of 15 vessels are managed by the Greek company Dynagas, and another six by Seapeak Maritime, a company based in Scotland.
As the Arctic sea ice reaches its lowest level of the year, a growing number of shipments are made from Yamal towards the Pacific region.
On 11 September, at least seven of the tankers serving the Yamal LNG were either located in, or on their way to, Pacific waters, ship traffic data show.
The Yamal LNG is located on the far northern Yamal Peninsula. It is owned by Novatek, the Russian natural gas company, in partnership with TotalEnergies, CNPC, and the Silk Road Fund.
