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India and China leading purchasers of Russian fuel oil in May, LSEG data programs

India and China were the top destinations for Russian seaborne fuel oil and vacuum gasoil ( VGO) exports in May, traders stated and LSEG data revealed.

Russian fuel oil and VGO seaborne exports last month increased 12% from April to about 4 million metric lots, helped by conclusion of seasonal maintenance.

The European Union's complete embargo on Russian oil items went into effect in February 2023 and the bulk of Russia's fuel oil and VGO was redirected to other areas, mostly Asia.

In May direct fuel oil and VGO deliveries from Russian ports to India increased to 0.7 million heaps from 0.6 million loads the previous month.

Russian fuel oil loadings to China rose last month to about 520,000 tons from 450,000 loads in April, computations and LSEG data show.

China and India import straight-run fuel oil and VGO for refining, partly replacing more costly Urals barrels, traders said.

Dirty oil items provides to Saudi Arabia from Russian ports in May doubled month on month to 430,000 heaps. Traders buy fuel oil for power generation during the hot summer season, market sources say.

Russian fuel oil loadings to the Ain Sukhna Terminal in Egypt fell last month to 200,000 tons from almost 500,000 lots in April, LSEG information programs.

VGO and fuel oil loadings from Russia to Malaysia rose to 320,000 tons from 190,000 lots in April while dirty oil items to Fujairah was up to 90,000 lots from 60,000 tons.

About 450,000 tons of VGO and fuel oil loaded in Russian ports in May chose ship-to-ship loadings near Greece and Malta. The majority of those freights wind up in Asia, market sources stated.

(source: Reuters)