LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – The second quarter of 2026 experienced a notable increase in the worth of European Union petroleum oil imports, which jumped by 55.8%, despite only a slight change in the volume. According to Eurostat, the import volume reached 36.7 million tonnes, reflecting a 1.2% rise compared to the monthly average of 2025. This data highlights a sharp rise in import value without a corresponding increase in physical oil quantities. The figures refer to crude petroleum oils entering the EU from outside countries.
In contrast, liquefied natural gas exhibited a different pattern during the same period. EU LNG import value went up by 4.1%, whereas import volume declined by 5.6% from the 2025 monthly average. Meanwhile, natural gas imported in gaseous form saw increases in both measures, with value rising by 18.5% and volume increasing by 3.4%. These fluctuations indicate that the three main categories of energy imports experienced varied rates of change in both monetary value and physical quantity during the quarter.
During the second quarter, the United States supplied 18.8% of the EU’s petroleum oil imports, making it the leading source. Norway followed with 14.3%, and Kazakhstan accounted for 13.4%. Collectively, these three nations contributed to 46.5% of the bloc’s petroleum oil imports in this period. The rankings for natural gas suppliers differed by category, 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 LNG imports. Russia contributed 17.3%, and Algeria made up 8.1%. These three suppliers together accounted for 88.6% of total LNG imports during this period. This concentration is higher than in petroleum oils, where the top three suppliers supplied less than half of the total imports. The figures represent each country’s share of the EU’s imports for the respective energy type.
For gaseous natural gas, Norway provided 51.2% of the EU’s imports in the quarter. Algeria was second with 18.2%, followed by the United Kingdom at 11.1%. Russia supplied 10.2%, ranking behind the United Kingdom in this category. The quarterly data from Eurostat was compiled using Comext trade figures and statistical estimates. The energy products analyzed include crude petroleum oils, liquefied natural gas, and natural gas transported in gaseous form.
Oil Import Values Rebound After 2025 Decline
The rise in oil import value during Q2 2026 follows a year where the EU saw declines in both value and volume of petroleum oil imports. In 2025, the import value dropped by 17.8% compared to 2024, while volume decreased by 6.1%. Overall, the EU imported €336.7 billion worth of energy in 2025, totaling 723.3 million tonnes. During that year, total energy import value fell by 11.1%, with overall volume decreasing by 0.6%. These annual figures cover energy imports from outside the EU.
Historical comparisons also reveal that energy import totals in the EU remained below 2022 levels. In 2022, energy imports were valued at €693.4 billion, with a volume of 849.6 million tonnes. By 2025, both value and volume had decreased by 51.4% and 14.9%, respectively. The oil import figures for the second quarter of 2026 indicate a substantial increase in value relative to the monthly benchmark of 2025, even as physical volumes stayed close to that reference point.