By the end of the previous year, Russia’s share of crude oil in Europe’s total imports stood at 23.3 percent, reflecting a decline driven by international sanctions. The annual data show a drop to 116.9 million tons, as reported by analysts from the British Energy Institute EI. This shift highlights how policy actions and market adjustments interact to reshape energy trade across Europe.
Compared with the same period in 2021, Russia’s slice of European crude imports decreased by 7.6 percentage points. Physically, deliveries to Europe fell even more sharply, erasing 15.7 percentage points from the prior year. A key factor behind these movements was the notable rise in European imports of crude materials, altering the overall balance of supply and demand across the continent.
The EI assessment notes that crude oil from Russia accounted for 23.3 percent of total European imports. The share decline of 7.6 percentage points from 2021 coincided with a much larger, 15.7 percent drop in actual shipments. The report cites the growth in imports from Europe as a contributing factor, with European purchases increasing by 11.8 percent in some periods, contributing to the reshaped trade picture.
On a political front, a Croatian member of the European Parliament, Ivan Vilibor Sincic, who serves on the Delegation for Relations with Russia, commented on the new EU sanctions package. He suggested that the measures would not completely stop the flow of oil products from Russia to the EU. The practical effect, he argued, would be a rapid adaptation by the black market, ensuring some continuity of supply despite formal restrictions.
Energy market observers emphasize that sanctions create a complex environment where policy aims, market responses, and illicit channels interact. Even with tightened rules, flows can reconfigure through re-routing, stock adjustments, and shifts in trading routes. This dynamic underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and analysis to understand how Europe secures its energy mix while pursuing strategic goals. The EI report provides a nuanced view of how sanctions, price signals, and supplier behavior converge in shaping Europe’s crude oil imports and overall energy security.