Kazakhstan strengthened its role in Europe's energy market during the first quarter of 2026, emerging as the European Union's third-largest supplier of crude oil and fourth-largest source of coal, according to the latest Eurostat data.

The country supplied 9.6% of all crude oil imported by the EU between January and March, trailing only the United States (17.8%) and Norway (16.6%). The figures underscore Kazakhstan's growing importance as Europe continues to diversify its energy sources, The Caspian Post reports via Kazinform.

Kazakhstan also ranked fourth among the EU's coal suppliers, behind Australia, the United States and Colombia, reinforcing its position as a reliable exporter of key energy resources.

Despite stable demand, the overall value of the EU's energy imports fell by 16.3% year-on-year in the first quarter, while import volumes declined by just 0.3%. According to Eurostat, the drop was largely driven by lower global energy prices rather than weaker consumption.

The data also highlighted broader shifts in Europe's energy landscape. The United States remained the EU's largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG), providing 57.4% of imports, while Norway continued to dominate pipeline natural gas deliveries.

Eurostat noted that the EU's energy trade has been reshaped since 2022, with member states increasingly sourcing oil, gas and coal from alternative partners following sanctions on Russian energy exports.

The latest figures further cement Kazakhstan's expanding role in Europe's energy security, building on earlier reports that nearly 13% of the country's oil exports are destined for the European market.