Russia’s seaborne oil product exports fell 2.5% in September from August to 9.456 million metric tons due to seasonal maintenance of refineries and a fuel export ban late in the month, data from industry sources and Reuters calculations showed.

Russia temporarily banned exports of gasoline and ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) from Sept. 21 to stabilise the domestic market.

The country has suffered shortages of gasoline and diesel in recent months, and wholesale fuel prices on the domestic market have spiked to record levels.

The embargo was partially lifted in October, with Russia resuming ULSD seaborne exports, although it has kept the ban on gasoline exports and cross-border sales of diesel by railway.

In September, total fuel exports via the Baltic ports of Primorsk, Vysotsk, St. Petersburg and Ust-Luga fell 5.1% month on month to 5.035 million metric tons, data from market sources showed.

Primorsk is the biggest Russian outlet for exports of ULSD.

Oil product exports via Russia’s Black Sea and Azov Sea ports rose slightly last month – by 0.4% from August to 3.676 million metric tons.

Fuel export supplies from the Russian Arctic ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk increased in September by 64.3% month-on-month to 96,500 metric tons.

Oil product export loadings at Russia’s Far East ports fell by 2.9% from August to 649,100 metric tons, data from sources and Reuters calculations showed.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Reuters, Editing by Mark Potter)