MOSCOW, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Russia's industrial production registered modest year-over-year growth in the first six months of 2026, while domestic gas output climbed strongly, according to data released Wednesday by the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat).
Russian industrial output expanded by 0.4 percent in January-June compared with the same period in 2025. In June alone, production rose 0.6 percent year over year. Breaking down activity by sector, Rosstat found manufacturing output grew 0.7 percent over the half-year period, while the electricity, gas and steam supply sector posted a 1.9 percent gain.
Russia's gas extraction recorded robust growth across the first half of the year. Total production of natural gas and associated petroleum gas reached 349 billion cubic meters in January-June 2026, marking a 3.9 percent increase from the same period in 2025. Natural gas output totaled 298 billion cubic meters, up 4.7 percent year over year.
Output of liquefied natural gas amounted to 18.2 million tonnes in January-June, 10.7 percent above the year-earlier level, Rosstat said.
The latest production data follow a weaker full-year performance in 2025, when Russia's overall gas output declined 3 percent to 663.3 billion cubic meters. Looking ahead, official and international forecasters expect output to recover through the second half of 2026 and into subsequent years.
Russia's Ministry of Economic Development projects national gas production will reach 688.4 billion cubic meters in 2026, followed by 711.3 billion cubic meters in 2027 and 731.9 billion cubic meters in 2028.
The International Energy Agency offers a slightly more conservative outlook, forecasting a 3 percent annual rise to 683 billion cubic meters for 2026.
