Russian LNG exports dropped 4.4% year-on-year in January to June, according to data

LSEG's preliminary data on Wednesday showed that Russia's liquefied gas exports in the first six months of this year fell by 4.4% compared to a year ago, reaching 15.2 million metric tonnes. This was despite international sanctions over Ukraine.

The United States, in particular, has imposed sanctions against companies and vessels connected to Russia's Arctic LNG 2 plant due to the conflict in Ukraine. This effectively freezes the project as Moscow is unable find buyers.

U.S. president Donald Trump said that he wanted the European Union (EU) to buy more U.S. LNG, and he would make it more available.

LSEG data shows that the drop in Russian LNG exports from May to June was 15%.

After sanctions against trans-shipment came into effect in March, Russian LNG exports in Europe decreased by 13% between January and June, to 7.9 millions tons. Supplies in June fell by 14.4%, to 1.37million tons.

After Moscow and Kyiv failed to extend the gas transit agreement, which expired on January 1, 2025, Russia's seaborne LNG exports to Europe surpassed the volumes of pipeline exports.

Novatek's Yamal plant reduced total exports by 1.2% on an annual basis in June, to 1.6 millions tons. The plant's output was stable at 9.8 millions tons in the first half of this year.

Sakhalin-2 (controlled by Gazprom) reduced exports to 400,000 tonnes in June, down from 500,000 tons a year earlier.

The operator of this project, Sakhalinskaya Energiya did not respond to a comment request.

The project's exports have risen to 5 million tonnes year-to date, up from 4.9 millions in January-June of 2024. (Reporting and writing by Oksana Kobieva, editing by David Evans; written by Vladimir Soldatkin)

(source: Reuters)