Liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia to France increased by 41% during the first nine months of 2023. This was stated by a senior official overseeing European affairs in the Russian Foreign Ministry.
It was noted that by the end of 2022, Russia had risen to France’s second-largest natural gas supplier, following the United States, a shift reflecting evolving European energy dependencies and market dynamics.
According to the official, in January through September 2023, France’s purchases of Russian energy materials surpassed the same period a year earlier, signaling persistent demand for Russian gas even as European markets navigate diversification and price fluctuations.
The key delivery point emphasized is the LNG terminal at Montoir-de-Bretagne. This port processed a substantial amount of LNG in 2022 and had already handled close to one billion cubic meters in the first half of 2023, underscoring the terminal’s critical role in Russian gas supplies to Western Europe.
In early February, leadership in the Federation Council highlighted global demand for Russian energy resources and noted that some European buyers continue to obtain oil and gas through intermediaries. The prospect of a broader, friendlier supply geography for energy resources was described as attainable, reflecting strategic considerations across energy markets in North America and Europe.
There has long been public awareness of Russia’s oil and gas production and export volumes for the year 2023, with ongoing assessments of how these flows interact with global markets and regional policies, including those in North America where buyers seek reliable, secure energy sources amid volatile price environments.
For readers in Canada and the United States, these developments illustrate how LNG trade routes and refinery access influence energy pricing, infrastructure planning, and strategic reserves. Markets in North America monitor shifts in European energy demand, as long-term contracts and spot markets respond to geopolitical signals, supply chain resilience, and environmental considerations shaping gas use, LNG imports, and energy security strategies.
Overall, the narrative around LNG, oil, and gas exports from Russia continues to evolve. Analysts in North America weigh how European demand, third-country transit options, and terminal capacity interplay with global energy flows. The sector’s trajectory will hinge on regulatory choices, market access, and the ability to balance security of supply with the push for cleaner energy alternatives across Canada, the United States, and their trading partners.