The conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the followed by the harsh anti -Russian sanctions affected the global routes of energy supplies, including the terms of the supply of “black gold”.
After February 2022, Russia reoriented most of its oil trade in Asia, while Europe increased imports from the USA, Africa and Latin America. Against the background of changes in energy supply routes – the time of oil delivery by tankers increased at least five times.
As Anadolo reports with reference to the data of the KPLER International Research Company, the amount of export of raw oil from Russia to India as of March 2023 reached 2 million barrels per day.
Prior to the start of the armed conflict in Ukraine, the import of Russian raw oil India was at the zero level, while after the outbreak of the war, oil trade between the two countries was noticeably perked up.
Meanwhile, the volume of exports of Russian oil to China since the beginning of the conflict has on average exceeded one million barrels per day.
Since Russia was forced to redirect 90 percent of raw oil exports to India and China due to the embargo introduced by European countries, the time of oil tankers increased at least 5 times. If before the conflict the time of oil tankers on the road took 5-6 days, now this indicator varies from 30 to 35 days. At the same time, oil delivery to China can reach 45 days.
Prior to the start of the conflict, Russian oil tankers arrived at the reception points in Rotterdam, France and Belgium from the Baltic ports in a short time. Whereas today an oil tanker, which goes from the Baltic ports, can reach the shores of India and China, traveling along the Baltic Sea, Ogiabay Danish, crossing British waters, Gibraltar, Malta, Sicily and Suez Canal, as well as crossing the Red Sea.
Often export of Russian oil, ESPO to China takes an average of 5 days, subject to its transportation through ports located in the eastern part of Russia. The shortest trade route for Russia is currently Türkiye.
Oil tankers departing from Novorossiysk, the only oil port in the Russian Federation on the Black Sea, reaches Turkey on average in 4 days.
If in February 2022 the export of raw oil from Russia to Turkey was 94 thousand 335 barrels per day, then in September 2022 this indicator reached its maximum level of 392 thousand 908 barrels per day. In March 2023, Russia exported 145 thousand 973 barrels of raw oil per day to Turkey.
In turn, the leading oil analyst Kpler Viktor Katona believes that “the longer the delivery period, the higher the risk of interruptions with deliveries.” “In addition, the current situation increases the emissions of oxide in the field of shipping,” Kato said.
The representative of the London Stock Exchange Jim Mitchell said that at the moment the United States, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and all Western Africa are trying to supply more oil to the markets from which Russia had to leave.