Russia, traditionally a major gasoline exporter, is now increasing fuel imports from abroad for its own needs. Turkey has joined its gasoline suppliers.
On August 21, the tanker Wendrix with 200,000 barrels of fuel loaded at the Turkish port of Mersin passed near the coast of Latvia. As of the morning of August 24, the vessel was already in the Russian port of Primorsk. This was reported by LIGA.net with reference to data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea.
It is noted that this vessel was previously named Jasper. Currently, it is under sanctions from the EU, Great Britain, Ukraine, and Switzerland.
Growth of sea fuel imports
According to S&P Global, the batch on the tanker Wendrix will be the fifth confirmed sea shipment of gasoline to Russia since the end of July, but the first loaded in Turkey. Previously, the main route of the vessel was associated with supplies from India via transshipment near the coast of Egypt.
In addition, according to S&P Global and Kpler, during July and August, Russia received three tankers with gasoline loaded at the Indian terminal Vadinar. Another batch of fuel of unknown origin arrived from Morocco at the end of July. In total, since the end of July, sea imports of gasoline to Russia have exceeded 1 million barrels.
Causes of the fuel crisis
According to analysts at S&P Global Energy CERA, the average volume of oil refining in Russia in July decreased by 28% compared to July 2023 — to 3.7 million barrels per day.
It was previously reported that new strikes by the AFU on Russian oil refineries again led to disruptions in fuel supplies at gas stations. Problems have already arisen in at least 16 regions of Russia. In July, these restrictions began to weaken after Ukrainian drones ‘switched’ their attention to Wildberries warehouses.
