Russian natural gas production grew by three percent year on year during the first seven months of 2026, according to official statistics reported by business newspaper Vedomosti.
Total gas extraction between January and July reached 397 billion cubic meters across the country. Natural gas production rose four percent to 338 billion cubic meters, while associated petroleum gas fell one percent to 59 billion cubic meters over the seven month period.
Gas output had consistently exceeded 2025 levels until July, when growth momentum slowed during the second month of summer. Monthly natural gas production increased by 0.4 percent year on year in July, while associated petroleum gas extraction dropped by two percent.
Associated petroleum gas is a form of natural gas released during crude oil extraction. Liquefied natural gas production showed stronger expansion, rising 14 percent year on year in July to reach 2.3 million tonnes. Total liquefied natural gas output since the start of the year increased by 12 percent to 20.6 million tonnes.
Export Demand and Weather Drivers
The increase in overall gas production and processing was attributed to weather conditions and higher export volumes. Russian gas extraction had fallen in 2025 following the end of gas transit through Ukraine and a reduction in domestic liquefied natural gas output.
Sergey Kaufman, an analyst at financial group Finam, said gas production during the first quarter of 2025 was lower because of an unusually warm heating season. Kaufman said current weather conditions have supported stronger demand across domestic and export markets.
Kaufman added that export growth is being driven by pipeline deliveries to European countries via the TurkStream pipeline and higher shipments of liquefied natural gas, including deliveries to Central Asian nations.
Vedomosti is a major business daily newspaper based in Moscow, while FG Finam is a prominent Russian investment and financial services group. Rosstat is Russia's Federal State Statistics Service, responsible for compiling official national economic data. The TurkStream pipeline carries natural gas from Russia across the Black Sea to Turkey and southern Europe.
Global Gas Demand Outlook
Despite the rise in Russian production, a report by the International Gas Union forecast that global gas demand could contract by seven billion cubic meters in 2026 compared to 2025 levels.
The International Gas Union expects the steepest drop in gas demand to occur in the Middle East, where consumption is projected to fall by 2.7 percent, or 17 billion cubic meters. European gas demand is expected to decline by four billion cubic meters, representing a drop of 0.8 percent, while demand in Asia is forecast to fall by two billion cubic meters, or 0.2 percent.
The International Gas Union is an international non-profit organization advocating for the gas industry worldwide. Liquefied natural gas refers to natural gas cooled to liquid state to facilitate long distance transport by specialized sea vessels without pipeline infrastructure.
