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Russia has started importing gasoline from India for the first time as fuel shortages intensify following a series of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries. Bloomberg reported the development, citing data from analytics firm Kpler.
Russia received its first shipment of Indian gasoline on August 5, while several more cargoes may still be in transit. The fuel is supplied by Nayara Energy, an Indian refiner backed by Russia’s Rosneft. Shipments are being routed through a transfer point off the Egyptian coast using tankers linked to Russia.
Analysts say the emergence of Indian gasoline highlights growing pressure on Russia’s domestic fuel market and a decline in traditional supply routes as refinery output falls.
According to EA Analytics, Russian crude oil processing averaged about 3.6 million barrels per day in July — roughly one-third below the seasonal norm. Ukraine struck five Russian refineries last week and at least two more this week.
How the fuel is reaching Russia
Bloomberg reported that the first shipment was delivered through a multi-stage transfer process. On June 18, the Russian-flagged tanker Cyclone loaded about 42,000 metric tons of gasoline at Vadinar, India. On July 6, the cargo was transferred in Egypt’s Damietta port to the Omani-flagged tanker Garnet, which arrived in Russia in early August.
Another tanker, Varg, loaded nearly 40,000 metric tons of gasoline at Vadinar on July 6. The cargo was likely transferred to another vessel in Damietta toward the end of July.
A third tanker, Photon, left Vadinar on July 13 and, according to tracking data, transferred its cargo in Damietta in late July to the Russian-flagged Talisman.
Most of the vessels involved in the shipments are listed in Russia’s shipping registry and are under EU sanctions. Garnet and Talisman are also subject to US sanctions.
Russia’s fuel crisis deepens
Recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries have already disrupted gasoline supplies in at least 16 Russian regions. Moscow’s decision to source fuel from the distant Indian market could indicate that domestic supplies are becoming increasingly insufficient to meet demand.
