Russian gasoline exports by rail jumped by more than 70% in June from May to 423,101 metric tons after a ban on exports was waived, data from sources and Reuters calculations showed.
The government issued a temporary waiver to the ban from May 20 until June 30 and then extended it for July.
Exports to Afghanistan in June rose by almost six-fold to 19,673 tons, the data showed.
Russia has been slowly building ties with the Taliban since they seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S.-led forces withdrew after 20 years of war, though the movement is still officially outlawed in Russia.
Russia’s January-June gasoline exports via rail fell by 39% to 2.507 million tons due to the export ban as well as due to a fall in refining volumes caused by drone attacks and technical outages, industry sources said.
The June data showed the main increase in gasoline exports by rail stemmed from deliveries to seaports.
The Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga was the key outlet for Russian gasoline exports. The Surgutneftegaz-owner SNGS. MM Kirishi oil refinery delivered more than 101,000 tons of gasoline to the port in June.
Refineries supplied the port of St. Petersburg with 16,164 of gasoline while the Arctic port of Murmansk received 19,500 tons.
The Slavyansk refinery resumed gasoline supplies to the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, delivering 40,741 tons in June.
Gasoline exports to Uzbekistan in June fell by more than half to 22,560 tons while supplies to Tajikistan decreased by almost 18% to 17,880 tons.
Russia first introduced six-month gasoline exports restrictions from March 1 to pre-empt possible shortages amid attacks by Ukrainian drones on oil refineries.
Source: Hellenic Shipping News
