Russia’s primary oil refining capacity is expected to increase by 1.9 million tonnes this month from April, reaching 4.4 million tonnes.
Since a full EU embargo on Russian petroleum products came into force on February 5, traders have diverted diesel exports from Russian ports to countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East since Europe, which was previously the main buyer.
Refinitiv data showed that for May so far, Russia sent around half a million tonnes of diesel to Turkey, up from 1.2 million tonnes the previous month.
Market sources told Reuters that some diesel shipments destined for Turkey from Russian ports could be unloaded from ship to ship without confirmation of their final destination.
Refinitiv data shows an additional 400,000 tonnes of diesel was shipped from Russia for ship-to-ship shipments near the Greek port of Kalamata and also near Malta.
“Ship-to-ship shipments in the Mediterranean avoid long and expensive routes to Asia,” one trader said, according to Reuters.
The final destinations of most of these shipments are still unknown.
Refinitiv data shows that around 250,000 tonnes of Russian diesel have left for Africa since early May.
Exports were mainly destined for Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria and other countries.
Reuters calculations based on Refinitiv data showed that in April, shipments of diesel from Russian ports to Africa amounted to around 900,000 tonnes.
An estimated 260,000 tons of diesel were loaded at Russian ports this month, with no confirmed destination.
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