Russia to Receive First Maritime Shipment of Gasoline from Turkey

In the face of growing fuel shortages, Russia will for the first time import gasoline from Turkey via maritime routes. According to data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea, Wendrix tankers are expected to deliver approximately 200,000 barrels of gasoline to Russia next week. Thus, Turkey will become a new route for fuel supply to Russia. Until now, imports have primarily been conducted from India through Egypt and Morocco.

In the past month, Russia's maritime gasoline imports have exceeded 1 million barrels. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to strike Russian energy infrastructure, significantly reducing fuel production in the country. Analysts from S&P Global Energy CERA estimate that oil refining volumes decreased by 28% in July, reaching 3.7 million barrels per day. In August, Russian oil refineries registered 17 attacks, nearly as many as in July.

On August 19, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak declared that the second phase of tension in the fuel market has begun. In the current situation, Moscow has completely banned gasoline exports until the end of January 2027. Restrictions on diesel fuel exports are in place until the end of August, but the possibility of extending these restrictions is being discussed.

Furthermore, Russian media reports that the government is also considering restricting the export of aromatic hydrocarbons. It has also been revealed that the full recovery of the Orenburg region's Orsk oil refinery will take approximately six months.

It is noteworthy that the Wendrix tankers are included in the sanctions lists of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and Switzerland. Turkey's Mersin port is also on Ukraine's sanctions list due to its alleged ties with Russia.