LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – In the second quarter of 2026, European Union recorded a 55.8% rise in the value of petroleum oil imports, despite minimal change in volume. According to Eurostat, the import quantity reached 36.7 million tonnes, marking a 1.2% increase from the monthly average of 2025. These data illustrate a sharp escalation in import value without a corresponding rise in actual oil deliveries, encompassing crude petroleum oils imported from outside the EU.
During the same period, liquefied natural gas (LNG) showed a different trend. EU LNG import value increased by 4.1%, although import volumes declined by 5.6% compared to the 2025 monthly average. Conversely, natural gas in gaseous form experienced growth in both value and volume, with an 18.5% increase in worth and a 3.4% rise in quantity. These results highlight differing rates of change across the three main energy import categories, both in monetary terms and physical volume, during the quarter.
The United States supplied 18.8% of the EU’s petroleum oil imports in Q2, positioning it as the primary source. Norway followed with 14.3%, and Kazakhstan contributed 13.4%. Together, these nations accounted for 46.5% of the EU’s petroleum oil imports during this period. In contrast, the supplier hierarchy for natural gas varied, with the United States leading LNG shipments, while Norway held the largest share of gaseous natural gas imports.
United States Dominates EU LNG Supply
During the second quarter of 2026, the United States supplied 63.2% of the EU’s LNG imports. Russia provided 17.3%, and Algeria made up 8.1%. These three suppliers collectively accounted for 88.6% of LNG imports in the period. This concentration surpasses that of petroleum oil, where the top three suppliers held less than half of total imports. The figures reflect each supplier’s share of the EU’s imports for each energy type.
For gaseous natural gas, Norway supplied 51.2%, Algeria 18.2%, and the United Kingdom 11.1%. Russia contributed 10.2%, placing it behind the United Kingdom in this category. Eurostat compiled these quarterly figures from Comext trade data and statistical estimates, covering crude oils, LNG, and gaseous natural gas.
Oil Import Values Bounce Back After 2025 Decline
The rise in oil import value during Q2 followed a year in which both volume and worth decreased. In 2025, petroleum oil imports declined by 17.8% in value and 6.1% in volume compared to 2024. Overall, the EU imported €336.7 billion worth of energy in 2025, totaling 723.3 million tonnes. Total energy import value fell by 11.1%, with volumes decreasing by 0.6%, based on annual data covering imports from outside the EU.
A longer-term comparison reveals that EU energy imports remained below 2022 levels. In 2022, imports reached €693.4 billion and 849.6 million tonnes. By 2025, both figures had fallen by over half and nearly 15%, respectively. The second-quarter 2026 oil data signifies a notable rebound in import value relative to the 2025 monthly average, while physical volumes stayed close to that benchmark.