Latest News

Russia's seaborne diesel exports rise in April despite drone attacks, data shows

LSEG and market sources reported that Russia's seaborne gasoil and diesel exports increased by 8% in April from March. This is only a slight decrease from the 3.3 million metric tonnes?exported a year earlier.

Exports rose despite repeated Ukrainian attacks on ports and refineries, weather disruptions and a surge in global demand.

Primorsk, a Baltic port, was attacked in late March and earlyApril. The Black Sea port of Tuapse was also attacked, and a nearby Tuapse Refinery owned by Rosneft had to stop operations after a Ukrainian drone attack on April 16.

Sources said that the ultra-low-sulphur Diesel shipments from Primorsk - Russia's largest?outlet for exporting diesel - dropped last month by over 17% compared to March.

Shipping data revealed that among diesel export destinations, Turkey remained the dominant buyer, with Turkish deliveries surging by over a third in April to reach 1.23 million tonnes.

Tankers with a combined total of 340,000 tons diesel are yet to declare the ports where they will discharge their fuel. LSEG data showed that vessels carrying nearly 240,000 tonnes of diesel are drifting awaiting instructions.

A second group of vessels, carrying approximately 500,000 tons Russian diesel, is headed to the?anchorages in Port Said (Egypt) and Limassol (Cyprus) for ship-to -ship transfers. These cargoes' final destinations are still unknown.

Market sources said that ship-to-ship activities have increased since January due to tightening Western sanctions and decreasing tanker availability.

According to shipping data, Morocco, Ghana, and Syria were also among the top importers of Russian Diesel cargoes during April.

(source: Reuters)