Russia’s Seaborne Diesel and Gasoil Exports Decline in March

In March, Russia experienced a decrease in seaborne diesel and gasoil exports due to unplanned maintenance on local refineries, according to data from LSEG and market sources. The decline was a result of drone attacks that targeted Russian refineries owned by Rosneft in Ryazan, Syzran, Saratov, and Lukoil’s Volgograd refinery in January and February.

As a consequence of the reduced processing capacity, the total diesel and gasoil exports from Russian ports dropped to approximately 3.8 million metric tons, marking a 5% decrease from February.

Main Importers of Russian Diesel and Gasoil

Turkey and Brazil remained the primary importers of Russian diesel and gasoil in March, as indicated by shipping data. Diesel and gasoil exports to Turkey increased to 1.19 million tons, a 17% rise from the previous month. Similarly, shipments to Brazil saw a nearly 25% increase to 0.85 million tons.

Impact on African Countries

On the other hand, diesel and gasoil exports to African countries from Russian ports halved in March, totaling around 0.64 million tons. Egypt, Morocco, Togo, and Tunisia were among the notable importers from the region.

Current Shipments and Destinations

Notably, tankers carrying approximately 335,000 tons of Russian diesel are en route for ship-to-ship (STS) transfers near the Cyprus port of Limassol. Additionally, vessels loaded with around 250,000 tons of diesel in Russian ports have their destinations listed as “for orders,” indicating that the discharge points are either undisclosed or yet to be determined.

Overall, the impact of the refinery maintenance and subsequent decrease in processing capacity has had ripple effects on Russia’s diesel and gasoil exports to various regions, with shifts in import volumes and destinations.

(Source: Reuters)