US sanctions leave Russian oil tankers without ports

Market chaos: Russian oil stuck in the ocean

New US sanctions against Russian oil, which came into effect today, immediately caused serious disruptions in the global market. According to Bloomberg, about 48 million barrels of Russian oil cannot find ports for unloading. Dozens of tankers are forced to drift on the high seas as most buyers fear secondary sanctions.

India changes course: refusal from Russian raw materials

Indian refineries - the main buyers of Russian oil in recent years - are sharply reducing purchases and refocusing on supplies from the Middle East. As a result, some of the cargoes that have already arrived in Asian waters may not find a buyer and remain in the ocean indefinitely.

Why the sanctions hit so hard

The US restrictions are focused on shipping, insurance and financial services that serve Russian energy transport. Without insurance coverage and access to port services, tankers simply cannot enter any port, even if they have a potential customer.

Implications for Russia and the global economy

The situation threatens to cause a sharp drop in the Kremlin's revenues in the coming weeks. Some traders are trying to mix oil at sea or disguise its origin, but this does not prevent the supply from being halted and the risk of fines from increasing. A potential oversupply of Russian crude could also increase instability in the global market.