For the second week in a row, Russia's Ust-Luga and Primorsk terminals have been unable to operate fully after drone attacks. This has led to a sharp drop in oil and diesel shipments, forcing Russian refineries to look for alternative export routes. Traders have reported a drop in shipments from dozens of vessels to just a few.
Drone attacks paralysed Russian oil ports
Russian oil terminals in the Baltic Sea - Ust-Luga and Primorsk - have been unable to receive and ship oil for two weeks due to a series of attacks by Ukrainian drones. Damage to port infrastructure has brought Russia's main export channels to a standstill. According to industry sources, since 22 March, Primorsk has not been accepting diesel for shipment.
Impact on exports and alternative routes
Due to the paralysis of ports, refineries in the European part of Russia and Siberia are forced to look for alternative routes for exports. They are trying to re-route some shipments to other ports or transport them by rail, which significantly increases costs. According to traders, shipments have fallen from 40-50 vessels per week to single shipments.
Risks to Russian oil exports
A prolonged shutdown of key terminals could have a significant impact on Russia's energy export revenues and cause additional logistical problems for the industry. Experts point out that the situation remains tense, and that infrastructure restoration may take a long time.
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