Russia’s ESPO oil blend exports from the Pacific port of Kozmino have increased by 5% so far in May from April’s average to a record-high of 960,000 barrels per day (bpd), Kommersant daily reported on Monday citing Kpler ship-tracking data.

It said that the data covers supplies over May 1-24. The previous record was set in February when the entire export of more than 914,000 bpd was shipped to China, which has become one of Russia’s main oil buyers along with India.

Kommersant said, citing Kpler’s lead crude analyst Viktor Katona, that Western sanctions against Russian tankers have been ineffective.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)