Russia has turned to India for gasoline as pressure on its domestic fuel supply intensifies, highlighting the growing impact of refinery disruptions and attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure. Bloomberg, citing Kpler data, reported that a 42,000-tonne cargo of gasoline from India’s Nayara Energy refinery arrived in Russia on August 5. The unusual shipment underscores the extent of the fuel shortage facing one of the world’s major oil producers.
The gasoline came from Nayara Energy’s Vadinar refinery, which is partly owned by Russia’s Rosneft. The cargo was loaded in June aboard a Russian-flagged tanker and initially transported to Egypt before being transferred to an Omani-flagged fuel carrier bound for Russia. Analysts say the shipment is significant because Russia has traditionally been a major fuel exporter rather than a country needing to source gasoline from overseas.
The situation has been worsened by declining refinery operations and repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian energy facilities. Russia’s refinery runs were estimated at about 3.6 million barrels per day in July, more than 30% below the seasonal average, according to figures cited by Bloomberg from EA Analytics. At the same time, attacks and disruptions at key ports have affected crude shipments, forcing Russia to redirect more oil toward domestic refining as it attempts to stabilize local fuel supplies.
Russia’s crude exports have consequently come under pressure. Seaborne crude shipments averaged 3.71 million barrels per day over the four weeks through August 9, while the latest weekly average dropped further to about 3.25 million barrels per day. With refinery activity recovering from earlier lows, more crude is being absorbed domestically, leaving less available for export and adding another layer of pressure to Russia’s already complicated energy trade.
The fuel shortage is also being felt beyond Russia’s borders, with disruptions contributing to tighter fuel markets. Moscow has already extended its ban on diesel exports until the end of the year as it prioritizes domestic supply. The arrival of Indian gasoline therefore represents more than a single shipment—it signals how refinery damage, geopolitical tensions and changing trade routes are forcing Russia to rethink how it supplies its own fuel market. As refinery operations remain under pressure, international traders will be watching closely to see whether imports from India become a temporary solution or a sign of a deeper shift in Russia’s energy trade.
source: oilprice
