LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – During the second quarter of 2026, European Union experienced a significant 55.8% increase in the monetary value of petroleum oil imports, despite only marginal changes in the total volume of these imports. According to Eurostat, the import volume reached 36.7 million tonnes, reflecting a modest 1.2% rise from the monthly average recorded in 2025. These figures highlight a notable escalation in import value that is not paralleled by a corresponding increase in physical oil deliveries, with the data specifically covering crude petroleum oils imported into the EU from nations outside the bloc.
In contrast, liquefied natural gas exhibited a different pattern within the same period. As reported, EU LNG import values rose by 4.1%, while the import volume decreased by 5.6% compared to the average monthly volume in 2025. Conversely, natural gas in gaseous form saw increases in both value and volume, with its worth climbing by 18.5% and its volume going up by 3.4%. These variations illustrate that the three main categories of energy imports experienced differing changes in both monetary value and physical quantity over the quarter.
Looking at the origin of supplies, the United States emerged as the primary source of petroleum oil imports during the second quarter, accounting for 18.8%, with Norway supplying 14.3%, and Kazakhstan providing 13.4%. Collectively, these three countries contributed to 46.5% of the EU’s petroleum oil imports in that period. When it comes to natural gas in different forms, the ranking of top suppliers varies, with the United States leading in LNG shipments and Norway holding the largest share of gaseous natural gas imports.
United States Dominates EU LNG Imports
In the second quarter of 2026, the United States supplied 63.2% of the EU’s liquefied natural gas imports, making it the dominant exporter in this category. Russia followed with 17.3%, while Algeria contributed 8.1%. These three nations together accounted for 88.6% of the total LNG imports during this period. The level of concentration was notably higher than in petroleum oil, where the three biggest suppliers held less than half of the total imports. These figures reflect each partner’s proportion of the EU’s import market for their respective energy products.
Regarding gaseous natural gas, Norway supplied 51.2% of the EU’s needs during the same quarter. Algeria ranked second with 18.2%, and the United Kingdom came in third with 11.1%. Russia supplied 10.2%, placing it behind the UK in this segment. The quarterly figures were compiled by Eurostat from Comext trade data and statistical estimates, covering crude petroleum oils, liquefied natural gas, and natural gas transported in gaseous form.
Oil Import Values Climb in Q2 After 2025 Decline
This rise in oil import values during the second quarter follows a year when both the value and volume of EU petroleum oil imports declined. In 2025, the value of petroleum oil imports dropped by 17.8% from 2024, while the volume decreased by 6.1%. Overall, in that year, the EU imported energy worth €336.7 billion, totaling 723.3 million tonnes, with total energy import value decreasing by 11.1% and overall volume falling by 0.6%. These annual figures encompass energy imports from outside the EU.
A longer-term comparison reveals that the total energy imports into the EU in 2025 remained below the levels recorded in 2022. In that year, energy imports were valued at €693.4 billion, with a volume of 849.6 million tonnes. By 2025, both the value and volume had fallen significantly—by 51.4% and 14.9%, respectively—compared to 2022. The figures for the second quarter of 2026 thus indicate a marked increase in the value of oil imports relative to the 2025 monthly baseline, while physical volumes stayed close to that reference point.