Russia imported gasoline from India for the first time last week to overcome local shortages. Bloomberg reported this on August 12, citing data from Kpler. This step comes amid Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries.
The fuel source was the Indian oil refining company Nayara Energy Ltd., supported by Russia’s largest oil producer, Rosneft. The fuel was transported by Russia-linked tankers via Egypt.
Increase in imports due to shortages
Russia has begun importing gasoline from partner countries, including Belarus and India, as Ukrainian drone attacks continue to damage refineries thousands of kilometers from the front line. Analysts estimate that current crude oil processing rates in Russia are about one-third lower than seasonal expectations.
Kyiv is conducting a “40-day campaign” aimed at “weakening key elements of the Russian military machine.” Sumit Ritolia, a senior analyst at Kpler, told Bloomberg that imports from distant countries such as India indicate “the seriousness of the current domestic imbalance in the gasoline market.”
Supply routes and sanctions
In April, Moscow announced a complete ban on the export of gasoline and diesel fuel to prioritize the needs of domestic consumers. Despite sanctions, “shadow fleet” tankers continue to operate at sea, delivering fuel to Russian ports.
The company Nayara, which is under European Union sanctions, shipped a cargo of gasoline with a volume of 42,000 metric tons from the Indian Vadinar to a transshipment point at the Egyptian port of Damietta. After transshipment, the vessel departed for Russia. Data collected by Bloomberg indicates that more fuel may be on its way to Russia, as two tankers left Vadinar on July 6 and July 13, also making transshipments in Damietta.
Source: The Kyiv Independent
