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Russian oil freight rates rise 25% in western ports after United States sanctions, sources state

Freight rates for shipments of Russian oil from its western ports to India rose by 25% after the U.S. enforced sanctions on 183 vessels involved in Moscow's. energy exports a week ago, 3 trading sources said and. Reuters computations revealed.

India, which is Russia's most significant market for oil, and China. are still purchasing Russian barrels using Washington's unwind. duration till March, while evaluating new risks, traders said.

The expense of a voyage for an Aframax vessel from Russia's. Baltic ports to India rose to $6.0-6.3 million for a one-way. trip, from about $4.7-4.9 million a week earlier, the sources stated.

That is still much lower than $20 million per trip in 2022. after the West imposed the very first sanctions on Russia's oil. sector, consisting of a cost cap and a European Union oil embargo.

The expense from the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk to India. for Suezmax tankers, which can hold 140,000 metric loads, increased to. around $5.5 million for a one-way journey from $4.3-$ 4.5 million. over the same duration, the sources added.

Russian oil suppliers are mainly utilizing Russian ships or the. so-called shadow fleet of older vessels working under. non-Western flags and utilizing non-Western insurance.

In addition to the boost in freight rates, daily. demurrage expenses - the penalty for postponed vessels - increased to. $ 80,000-90,000 each day, compared to $55,000-$ 60,000 recently,. data seen by traders showed.

Under the price cap imposed in 2022, suppliers of Russian. oil are just able to use Western services such as shipping and. insurance if Russian crude trades below $60 per barrel.

Many Russian exporters have actually been utilizing Russian insurers such. as Ingosstrakh and Alphastrakhovanie, both of which were likewise. approved by the U.S. a week back.

Traders expect the most recent U.S. sanctions on the insurance providers and. on the 183 tankers to prompt Russian oil firms to cut prices to. below $60 per barrel, making it possible to use Western shipping. and insurance services.

(source: Reuters)