Russian oil sea deliveries plummet to historic lows: Bloomberg uncovers reasons
Illustrative photo (Photo: Getty Images)
The maritime shipments of crude oil from Russia have dropped to the lowest level in nearly two months, hindered by several factors, reports Bloomberg.
The article notes that adverse weather conditions and a strike by a Ukrainian drone, which temporarily halted deliveries from a key export terminal to Baltic countries, contributed to this decline.
Approximately 3.36 million barrels of crude oil per day were shipped from Russian ports in the four weeks leading up to January 21. This is 50,000 barrels per day less than the revised figure for the period up to January 14.
Bloomberg writes, "Port maintenance and more poor weather may depress shipments again this week, while the drone attack has opened up a new front in Moscow’s war on Ukraine that highlights the vulnerability of oil exports from Russia’s western ports."
Other issues for Russia in the oil sector
Bloomberg reports that Russia still faces difficulties with the placement of oil shipments from Sokol.
"Seventeen cargoes, totaling almost 12 million barrels, are sitting on tankers that appear to be going nowhere," the article states.
Two more cargoes are on barge tankers anchored near the South Korean port of Yeosu, where they are usually transshipped to other vessels for further delivery to India.
Attack on the maritime terminal in Russian Ust-Luga
On the night of January 21, an explosion occurred in the area of the oil terminal of the Sea Commercial Port in the town of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region. Residents of nearby cities reported drones.
Later, a fire broke out at the terminal. About 150 people had to be evacuated from the enterprise.
In addition, on this night in Russia, it was loud not only in the area of the oil terminal. Explosions were also heard in Tula, where the Shcheglovsky Val military plant, which produces the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile system, was attacked. This attack, in turn, became the work of Ukrainian intelligence. More details in the material of RBC-Ukraine.
