Data shows that Russia's LNG exports between January and February fell 7.3%.

LSEG released preliminary data on Friday showing that Russia's LNG exports in the first half of this year were down 7.3% compared to a year ago, at 5.1 million metric tonnes. This was due to sanctions and the Sakhalin-2 supply cut.

Due to U.S. sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine, Russia has been unable to increase LNG exports. The new Arctic LNG 2 facility has effectively been frozen due to the Western sanctions.

According to LSEG, Russia's exports of LNG fell by 8% in February, from 2,57 million to 2,36 million tonnages a year earlier.

In January-February, Russia's LNG supplies to Europe fell by 13% on an annual basis to 2.7 millions tons. Supplies in February were down 7% at 1.3 million tonnes.

Novatek's Yamal plant increased total exports by 7% on an annual basis in February to 1.5 million tonnes.

Sakhalin-2 (controlled by Gazprom) exported 760,000 tonnes from the Pacific Island in February, a 21% decrease from the same period in 2024.

The U.S. sanctioned Gazprom’s small-scale Portovaya Liquefied Natural Gas plant on the Baltic Sea shores in January when its final cargo was delivered. The company loaded LNG cargoes in this month but has not yet delivered them.

Donald Trump, the U.S. president, has stated that he wants to sell more U.S. LNG to Europe and will increase its availability. (Reporting and writing by Oksana Kobieva, Writing by Vladimir Soldatkin, Editing by Frances Kerry.)

(source: Reuters)