Russian gas exports through pipelines to Europe fell sharply by 44% in 2025, to the lowest level since the mid-1970s.
This decline marks the clearest statistical end to Russia's once most lucrative and politically influential energy relationship.
The decrease in Russian gas exports to Europe through gas pipelines is mainly due to the closure of the transport route through Ukraine in early 2025, making TurkStream the only pipeline transporting Russian gas into Europe.
However, even TurkStream currently only serves a shrinking customer group, mainly in Southeast Europe, as the EU promotes plans to completely eliminate Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027.
Before the conflict in Ukraine, Europe was a pillar market for Russian gas transported through gas pipelines, generating tens of trillions of USD.
The EU's gradual bans on gas transported through pipelines and LNG, along with closer monitoring to prevent law-breaking, have led to a sudden decline.
The amount of Russian gas transported through the TurkStream pipeline actually increased in May 2025 and the amount of gas transported up to that point was even higher than in 2024. But that increase is only temporary. With the transit gas pipeline through Ukraine closed and no alternative routes heading west, total volume still decreased sharply throughout 2025.
To respond, Russia has accelerated the shift to the east. Gas transported through the pipeline to China is expected to increase by about 25% in 2025, with Gazprom transporting nearly 39 billion m3 through the Power of Siberia pipeline.
Russia's LNG exports to China also increased sharply, reaching a monthly record in November 2025.
However, Asia cannot compensate for Russia losing the European market. More competitive prices, expensive infrastructure, and projects like Power of Siberia 2 have not yet started.
