Russia Starts Importing Gasoline from Turkey Due to Refinery Constraints
Suffering from reduced refinery capacity and fuel shortages due to Ukrainian attacks, Russia has started buying gasoline from Turkey, following Morocco and India.
Suffering from reduced refinery capacity and fuel shortages due to Ukrainian attacks, Russia has started importing gasoline from Turkey, following Morocco and India. The tanker named Wendrix, carrying approximately 200,000 barrels of gasoline loaded from the Port of Mersin, has set sail for Russia.
Tanker Set Sail from the Port of Mersin
According to S&P Global Commodities at Sea data, the tanker named Wendrix, loaded from Turkey's Port of Mersin, carries approximately 200,000 barrels of gasoline.
While the ship is expected to reach Russia next week, VesselFinder data indicates that the ship is heading towards a port in the Baltic Sea.
First Seaborne Gasoline Shipment
While the source of the fuel loaded onto the tanker is unknown, this shipment marks the first detected seaborne gasoline delivery from Turkey to Russia.
Russia is turning to alternative countries to close the supply deficit that has increased as a result of Ukraine's attacks on energy infrastructure.
Imports Exceeding 1 Million Barrels in One Month
The total amount of gasoline Russia has received by sea since the end of July has exceeded 1 million barrels.
In the past month, three tankers loaded from the Vadinar refinery in India reached Russia through ship-to-ship transfers off the coast of Egypt.
Turkey Became the Fifth Alternative Source
At the end of July, a shipment of approximately 300,000 barrels also took place from Morocco, but the actual origin of this fuel has not yet been determined.
The new 200,000-barrel shipment from Turkey became the fifth source in Russia's expansion of alternative fuel supply sources.
Fuel Market and Bans in Russia
In July, Russia reduced its daily crude oil processing volume by 28 percent compared to last year's average, down to 3.7 million barrels.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced on August 19 that the second phase of tension in the fuel market had begun, and Moscow extended the gasoline export ban until the end of January 2027.