Russia's August Seaborne Fuel Imports Near 460,000 Tonnes Amid Refinery Strikes
Russia imported nearly 460,000 tonnes of motor fuel by sea in August, mostly gasoline, as drone strikes cut refinery output to 70% of domestic demand.
Russia brought in close to 460,000 metric tonnes of motor fuels through its seaports in August, according to shipping data and industry sources, as the country scrambled to offset shortages triggered by Ukrainian drone strikes on its refining capacity.
Over the past two weeks, unmanned aerial vehicles hit and halted operations at several major refineries, including plants in Perm, Nizhny Novgorod, Kirishi and Yaroslavl — all significant producers of motor gasoline.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed in mid-August that Russia had begun importing fuel, though he did not specify volumes or supply sources. To stabilise the domestic market, Moscow has also permitted rail imports of gasoline from Belarus and Kazakhstan and imposed a ban on fuel exports.
Traders said the bulk of the seaborne arrivals — roughly 370,000 tonnes — was gasoline sourced from India, Turkey and Morocco, delivered to Russian Baltic and Arctic ports. Separately, Russia has also started receiving diesel shipments by sea from Asia at its Far Eastern ports.
Market data indicates at least two more gasoline cargoes, totalling around 80,000 tonnes, are due to dock at Russian ports within the next week. Summer fuel consumption is estimated at about 115,000 tonnes per day.
By the end of August, Russia's gasoline production had slipped to roughly 70% of domestic consumption levels, as the wave of drone attacks forced major refineries to suspend operations.