Russia to increase imports of aviation fuel of Japanese origin through South Korea
Russia is trying to alleviate the aviation fuel shortage through imports, amidst the crisis due to Ukrainian drone strikes on its oil refining infrastructure. At least 200,000 barrels are expected to be transported through South Korea to Russia.
As reported by Reuters, a shipment of aviation fuel is planned to be dispatched from the port of Chiba in Japan in the first half of July. The cargo will arrive in South Korea, where it will be transferred to another tanker before being sent to Russia. At this moment, the final destination remains unknown.
This move is driven by the shortage of domestic aviation fuel reserves, which began after Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries. According to analytical company Kpler, Russian aviation fuel exports this year have decreased to approximately 13,000 barrels per day, whereas last year this figure was about 30,000 barrels per day. The main importer of Russian fuel is Turkey.
This is not the first instance of importing aviation fuel from South Korea to Russia. In February 2022, approximately 22,000 barrels were shipped from South Korea’s Yeosu to Vladivostok. The total volume of Japanese aviation fuel planned for import this time is significantly larger.
The importation of fuel resources is becoming a vital element of Russia’s strategy amidst the crisis caused by armed actions in Ukraine. Previously, the country also began maritime imports of gasoline from India to stabilize the domestic market.
| Period | Export of aviation fuel (barrels per day) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 30,000 |
| 2023 | 13,000 |
