In September 2025, the largest importers of Russian oil and gas are China, India, and Turkey, with the European Union (primarily Hungary and Slovakia, plus other countries for LNG) also a significant buyer for pipeline gas and LNG despite general bans. The EU is also working to further reduce and ban its imports, with a focus on an early ban on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by 2027, though Hungary and Slovakia's continued pipeline oil imports remain a loophole.
Major
Importers
China: Remains
the largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels, including crude oil, pipeline gas,
and coal.
India: A
major buyer of Russian crude oil and coal.
Turkey: A significant importer of Russian crude oil and oil products, and a re-export hub.
European Union: Despite partial sanctions, the EU continues to import Russian LNG and pipeline gas, though volumes have dropped significantly. Hungary and Slovakia: Remain heavily reliant on Russian pipeline gas and oil, with Hungary being a top importer of fossil fuels.
Other EU Countries: Spain, Belgium, France, Greece, the Netherlands, and Portugal are importers of Russian LNG.
Context of
the Situation
Shifting
Trade: Russia is pivoting its fossil fuel exports to Asia to offset
declining European markets.
EU
Sanctions: While some EU countries still import Russian oil and gas due to
specific legal exemptions or for LNG, the EU aims to bring forward a ban on
Russian LNG by January 1, 2027.
Political
Pressure: US President Donald Trump has pressured European nations and
Turkey to stop importing Russian oil to put further pressure on Moscow.
Circumvention: The EU faces challenges from a "shadow fleet" of oil, which is used to circumvent sanctions and facilitate the sale of Russian oil.
Russia
exports oil and gas to various countries despite Western sanctions.
· Oil:
o China and India remain
the largest importers of Russian oil. India's imports are expected to increase
in September 2025.
o Turkey is the third-largest buyer
of Russian oil after China and India.
o Hungary and Slovakia continue
to receive Russian crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline due to exemptions
from EU sanctions.
· Gas:
o China, Turkey, and
the EU are major buyers of Russian gas, including LNG and pipeline
gas.
o The EU was the largest buyer
of Russian LNG in the second quarter of 2025.
o Serbia will sign a three-year gas
import deal with Russia in October 2025.
o Hungary and Bulgaria import
Russian pipeline gas via the TurkStream pipeline.
o Spain, Belgium, the
Netherlands, and France still import Russian LNG.
o Greece, Portugal, and Slovakia are
also believed to be importing Russian gas.
Context
· The EU is proposing a complete ban on
Russian LNG imports by January 1, 2027.
· The European Commission is working on a
proposal to impose tariffs on Russian oil entering the EU via Hungary and
Slovakia.
· Some NATO members, including Turkey,
Hungary, and Slovakia, continue to import Russian oil and gas.
· Russian oil and gas revenues are
projected to decline significantly in September 2025.
· Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries may lead to an increase in crude oil exports.
Comments
If Trump can get Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Spain, France and Netherlands to stop buying Russian Oil and Gas, the loss in revenue combined with Russia’s 20% Inflation will reduce Russia’s ability to continue the war.
Norb Leahy,
Dunwoody Ga Tea Party Leader
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