LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – In the second quarter of 2026, the European Union experienced a 55.8% jump in the monetary value of petroleum oil imports, despite only marginal changes in volume. According to Eurostat, the total import volume reached 36.7 million tonnes, representing a 1.2% increase compared to the average monthly volume of 2025. These figures highlight a significant escalation in import worth without a corresponding rise in physical oil quantities. The data pertains to crude petroleum oils entering the EU from outside the bloc.
Meanwhile, liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports exhibited a different pattern during the same period. EU LNG import value increased by 4.1%, even as import volume declined by 5.6% from the 2025 monthly average. Conversely, natural gas in gaseous form saw growth in both measures, with value rising 18.5% and volume increasing 3.4%. These disparities illustrate how the three major energy import categories displayed varied movements in value and physical quantities during the quarter.
In the second quarter, the United States supplied 18.8% of EU petroleum oil imports, making it the leading source. Norway followed with 14.3%, and Kazakhstan contributed 13.4%. Collectively, these three nations accounted for 46.5% of the bloc’s petroleum oil imports during the period. When it comes to natural gas, the supplier rankings differed: the United States led LNG shipments, while Norway maintained the largest share of gaseous natural gas imports.
United States remains dominant in EU LNG deliveries
During the second quarter of 2026, the United States supplied 63.2% of EU liquefied natural gas imports. Russia provided 17.3%, with Algeria accounting for 8.1%. These three countries together represented 88.6% of LNG imports in the period. This concentration exceeds that of petroleum oil, where the top three suppliers provided less than half of the imports. The figures reflect each supplier’s share of EU imports for the respective energy type, based on data from Eurostat compiled from Comext trade statistics and estimates.
For gaseous natural gas, Norway supplied 51.2% of EU imports during the quarter. Algeria ranked second with 18.2%, followed by the United Kingdom at 11.1%. Russia accounted for 10.2%, placing it behind the United Kingdom in this category. The quarterly figures from Eurostat are based on Comext trade data and statistical estimates, covering crude petroleum oils, liquefied natural gas, and gaseous natural gas transported in gaseous form.
Oil import value rebounds after 2025 decrease
The rise in the second quarter follows a year when EU petroleum oil imports declined in both monetary value and volume. In 2025, the value of petroleum oil imports fell by 17.8% compared to 2024, while volume decreased by 6.1%. Overall, the EU imported energy worth €336.7 billion in 2025, totaling 723.3 million tonnes. The annual energy import value declined by 11.1%, and total volume dropped by 0.6%. These yearly figures refer to energy imports from outside the EU.
A broader comparison shows that EU energy import totals in 2025 remained below the levels seen in 2022, when imports were valued at €693.4 billion and reached 849.6 million tonnes in volume. From those benchmarks, the value decreased by 51.4%, and volume fell by 14.9% by 2025. Consequently, the second-quarter 2026 oil figures indicate a notable increase in import value compared to the 2025 monthly average, while physical volumes stayed close to that benchmark.