Growth of fuel imports in Ukraine amid supply constraints
In July, Ukrainian fuel companies increased imports through the western border in response to supply shortages in the south. The increase in import volume was made possible by appropriate decisions regarding alternative sources, although this led to an increase in spot purchase costs for fuel.
Oleh Chykida, co-owner of the Western Fuel and Energy Company, reported that thanks to a prompt response to the situation, it was possible to compensate for the lack of supply from the southern direction. However, the high cost of spot supplies raised overall costs. Director of the A-95 Consulting Group Serhiy Kuyun noted that the market faced a number of issues, among them a reduction in water transport supplies due to security risks and the shallowing of the Danube, which limited barge loading.
These circumstances were also used by large industrial consumers, who increased fuel purchases, leading at times to wholesale prices exceeding retail ones. Amid these challenges, diesel fuel imports in July amounted to 562,000 tons, which is 5% more than the previous year, and gasoline imports reached 196,000 tons, which is the highest figure since August 2025.
Despite import restrictions from Poland due to technical problems, particularly on the part of ORLEN, Ukrainian importers found ways to compensate for fuel shortages, especially through the use of road transport, which increased its consumption.
It is expected that in August the market situation will stabilize thanks to newly concluded supply contracts. The Western Fuel and Energy Company became the leader in diesel fuel import growth rates in July 2026, successfully carrying out the first marine delivery of EN 590 diesel from Kuwait.
| Indicator | July 2025 | July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel fuel imports (thousand tons) | 535 | 562 |
| Gasoline imports (thousand tons) | 180 | 196 |
| Barge loading | 50% | 30-50% |
