Traders have shipped about 30,000 metric tons of petroleum products from South Korea to Russia with loading scheduled for late July, Reuters reported, citing ship-tracking services Kpler and Vortexa and trade sources. At least two tankers were loaded from storage tanks at the port of Ulsan for delivery to Russia's Far East.
One vessel has already arrived in Russia, though unloading has not yet begun. Two sources familiar with the situation said the cargo includes diesel fuel; one of them said the shipment also contains aviation kerosene. South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy declined to comment, and Russia's Energy Ministry did not respond to the agency's request.
Reuters described the trade as unusual, noting that Russia typically exports petroleum products itself. The imports come amid a fuel crisis that has persisted since late spring, triggered by more frequent Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure. Ukrainian attacks have taken out 45% of Russia's nominal and 30% of its actual refining capacity, pushing Russian oil processing volumes back to 2002 levels of 3.6 million barrels per day.
Facing the shortage, Moscow is seeking alternative ways to supply the market. Over 25 days in June, Russia imported 141 times more gasoline from Belarus than in all of June last year. Purchases of gasoline in India and Morocco have also been reported, along with negotiations with Kazakhstan. However, Reuters noted that Indian refineries indicated they would not be able to fully meet Russia's demand. Russia's ban on gasoline exports has been extended through January 31, 2027, while restrictions on diesel exports remain in place throughout August.