LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – In the European Union, the second quarter of 2026 saw a notable increase in the monetary worth of petroleum oil imports, which rose by 55.8%, while the physical quantities remained relatively stable. According to Eurostat, the import volume reached 36.7 million tonnes, reflecting a 1.2% rise compared to the monthly average of 2025. This indicates a sharp escalation in import value without a corresponding rise in actual oil shipments. The data encompasses crude petroleum oils imported into the EU from non-member countries.
During the same period, liquefied natural gas (LNG) exhibited a different trend. EU LNG import value increased by 4.1%, yet import volume declined by 5.6% from the 2025 monthly average. Conversely, natural gas in gaseous form experienced growth in both categories, with value rising by 18.5% and volume increasing by 3.4%. These results illustrate that the three primary energy import types moved at varying paces in terms of value and physical quantities during the quarter.
In the second quarter, the United States emerged as the leading supplier of petroleum oil to the EU, accounting for 18.8% of imports. Norway followed with 14.3%, and Kazakhstan supplied 13.4%. Together, these nations represented 46.5% of the EU’s petroleum oil imports in that period. The rankings differ when it comes to natural gas, with the United States leading in LNG shipments and Norway holding the largest share of natural gas in gaseous form, reflecting different supplier dynamics across categories.
United States Dominates EU LNG Deliveries
During the second quarter of 2026, the United States supplied 63.2% of the EU’s liquefied natural gas imports. Russia supplied 17.3%, and Algeria contributed 8.1%. These three nations collectively made up 88.6% of LNG imports during the period. This concentration surpasses that of petroleum oil, where the top three suppliers accounted for less than half of the total imports. The percentages reflect each country’s share of the EU’s energy imports for the respective product.
Meanwhile, Norway supplied 51.2% of the EU’s natural gas in gaseous form during the quarter. Algeria ranked second with 18.2%, and the United Kingdom followed at 11.1%. Russia’s share was 10.2%, placing it behind the UK in this category. The quarterly figures, compiled from Eurostat data from Comext trade statistics and estimates, cover crude oils, LNG, and natural gas transported in gaseous form.
Oil Import Values Climb After 2025 Decline
The second-quarter growth follows a year in which the EU experienced declines in both the value and volume of petroleum oil imports. In 2025, the value of petroleum oil imports decreased by 17.8% compared to 2024, with volume dropping by 6.1%. Overall, the EU’s energy imports in 2025 were valued at €336.7 billion, totaling 723.3 million tonnes. That year, the total energy import value fell by 11.1%, and the overall volume decreased by 0.6%. These annual figures encompass energy imports from outside the EU.
Additionally, a longer-term comparison reveals that EU energy import totals in 2025 remained below the levels of 2022. In that year, imports were valued at €693.4 billion, with volumes reaching 849.6 million tonnes. By 2025, both value and volume had fallen significantly—by 51.4% and 14.9%, respectively. The oil figures for the second quarter of 2026 thus mark a notable rebound in import value relative to the 2025 monthly average, while physical volumes stayed close to that benchmark.