Belgium depended entirely on Russian liquefied natural gas shipments in July for the first time since 2021, importing roughly 400,000 tonnes as total LNG deliveries fell more than 40 percent year-on-year. A de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions around Iran has disrupted shipments from Qatar, which supplied about 16 percent of Belgium's LNG last year.
Across Europe, gas storage levels have dropped to their lowest seasonal point since records began in 2009, with a 12 billion cubic metre deficit. Gazprom has warned the shortfall poses a serious risk to winter supplies. EU imports of Russian LNG nonetheless rose 16 percent in the first half of 2026 to 5.96 billion euros, with France, Belgium and Spain leading purchases.
Russia remains the second-largest LNG supplier to Europe after the United States. The European Union has banned short-term Russian LNG contracts since April and plans a full ban from January 2027. Belgium continues to receive pipeline gas from Norway and Britain.