Ukraine’s continuous drone attacks have affected Russia’s oil refining system. As a result, petrol availability has faced growing pressure across Russia.
The country, known among the world’s major crude oil producers and refiners, is now importing petrol from India. This move highlights a changing energy relationship between both nations.
Belarus And Kazakhstan Remain Major Fuel Suppliers
Russia receives most of its petrol supply from neighbouring countries like Belarus and Kazakhstan. However, India also supplied significant quantities during June and July.
According to ship tracking data, India exported around 12,000 barrels per day of petrol to Russia in June. Later, the supply increased to nearly 21,000 barrels per day in July.
Together, both months saw around 10 lakh barrels of petrol shipped from India to Russia. Experts believe additional volumes may have also reached Russia.
Some supplies may have travelled through ship-to-ship transfers. Others may have arrived through vessels without declared destinations.
Nayara Energy Emerges As Key Indian Supplier
Trade sources suggest India may continue petrol supplies to Russia during August. However, August figures are not available yet.
Sources identified Nayara Energy’s Vadinar refinery as a major Indian supplier. The refinery also has Russian ownership involvement.
Interestingly, Russian crude oil continues reaching India in large volumes. Indian refineries process this crude into petrol and other petroleum products.
Therefore, some petrol sent to Russia may come from Russian crude refined inside India. This creates a unique energy connection between both countries.
India-Russia Energy Relations See Major Shift
The latest development reflects a significant change in India-Russia energy ties. India has remained among the biggest buyers of Russian crude oil for nearly four years.
China also remains another major buyer of Russian crude. After the Russia-Ukraine war began, Western restrictions affected Russia’s traditional European markets.
Consequently, Russia offered crude oil at attractive prices. This increased Indian purchases of Russian oil.
Today, Russian crude holds the largest share of India’s overall crude oil imports.
Drone Attacks Create Pressure On Russian Refineries
Several factors have affected Russia’s petrol supply situation. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries have reduced production capacity.
Additionally, regular refinery maintenance, higher summer demand and transport challenges increased pressure.
The impact has reached both petrol and diesel supplies. However, Russia remains relatively stronger in diesel availability.
The reason lies in its refining system, which produces more diesel than domestic demand requires.
Russia Limits Fuel Exports Before Winter
Despite better diesel availability, Russia restricted diesel exports. The move aims to maintain sufficient fuel reserves before winter.
However, petrol faces a different situation. Russia currently finds petrol exports extremely difficult.
Reports also suggest several petrol stations have limited fuel quantities sold to individual vehicles.
Petrol Supply Becomes Russia’s Biggest Concern
Sumit Ritolia, Modelling and Refining Manager at commodity market analytics company Kpler, told The Indian Express that petrol remains highly sensitive.
According to him, Russian refineries usually meet domestic demand and leave limited volumes for exports. Therefore, lower production quickly reduces available reserves.
Ritolia said Russia restricted petroleum product exports due to reduced refinery output. The country also changed product standards to maintain domestic availability.
India Supplies Rising Petrol Volumes To Russia
Kpler data showed India exported around 12,000 barrels per day of petrol to Russia in June. The figure increased to nearly 21,000 barrels per day in July.
The combined supply during these months reached around 10 lakh barrels. Additional quantities may have also reached Russia through undisclosed routes.
Therefore, India has become more than a major buyer of Russian crude oil. It is now also among the countries helping Russia meet petrol requirements.
