Russian Black Sea Crude Oil Exports in April 2022 - August 2023 and Reasons Behind the Drop

13:13 05.09.2023

Russia

The Monitoring Group of the BlackSeaNews and Black Sea Institute for Strategic Studies

Based on the results of our own monitoring (see Table 1), the monitoring group of the BlackSeaNews and Black Sea Institute for Strategic Studies reports on the main trends in Russian oil exports from the Black and Azov Seas in April 2022-August 2023.

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As reported earlier, in March 2023, Russia’s crude oil exports from the Black Sea ports set an absolute record of 5,565,874 tons, which was significantly higher than in any previous month since April 2022.

Subsequently, in April 2023, crude oil exports decreased by 14.2% to 4,822,058 tons, while in May and June 2023, they increased again totaling almost 5 million tons in each. But in July 2023, exports dropped by 27.2% to 3,636,836 tons, and in August 2023, the decline continued, with a further reduction of 12.6% compared to the previous month.

It is too early, however, to determine the nature for the decline with certainty.

For example, while in May 2023, the growth was clearly driven by EU countries, meaning the embargo violations, in June 2023, it were the non-EU countries who accounted for the high level of exports comparable to the March ones. Conversely, while in July 2023, 67.2% of the decline in exports was due to the EU countries, i.e., a decrease in embargo violations, in August 2023, the volume of exports to the EU in violation of the embargo increased again — from 222,316 to 377,766 tons.

At the same time, maritime exports to countries that had not joined the embargo continued to decline, amounting to 18.0%, or 614,014 tons. It is possible that the main reason for the drop was the seasonal factor in the oil refining industry of the exporting and importing countries, but it’d be possible to verify that only in September-October 2023.

Let’s keep in mind that on July 24, 2023, the EU's decision that tankers committing such violations are banned from entering EU ports came into force. The analysis of violations of the embargo on Russian maritime crude oil will be provided in a separate publication.

We cannot rule out a deliberate hold back of crude oil exports by Russia to stimulate further growth of the world oil prices.

For reference, in June 2023, 42 tankers transported Russian oil from the Black Sea, while there were only 28 in July, and 26 — in August. While in June, 15 tankers belonged to European companies, in July there were 9, and in August 11, namely, 8 — from Greece, 1 — Norway, 1 — Monaco and 1 — UK. Among the tankers transporting Russian crude oil in August 2023, 6 were owned by Russian shipowners re-registered in the UAE and 3 — by Turkish companies.

Notes:

а) the Russian Federation exports crude oil and oil products — fuel oil, gas oil and diesel fuel — from the ports of the Black and Azov Seas. The cargo is carried by two different types of vessels — crude oil tankers and oil/chemical (oil product) tankers, respectively. While crude oil tankers are usually very large and in the Black Sea each of them is capable of taking 100 to 150 thousand tons of crude oil, oil product tankers have a much smaller carrying capacity in the 3-5 and 25-30 thousand ton ranges. The monthly ratio of crude oil to oil product exports is approximately 3:1;

b) there are two separate streams of crude oil exported from the Black Sea ports: Russian crude oil — from the ports of Novorossiysk, Taman, Tuapse, the raid transshipment in the Kerch Strait and south of it and crude oil of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) — from a special terminal in the port of Novorossiysk. The latter contains 80% Kazakh oil and 20% oil produced in Kazakhstan by the Russian Lukoil company. Despite the fact that it is transported via the Russian territory, Kazakh oil is currently not subject to sanctions;

c) when showing the crude oil and petroleum product export figures, the tables and diagrams use the deadweight (DWT) indicator — the total carrying capacity of a vessel or the total weight of variable cargo in tons, including that of fuel, lubricating oil, technical and drinking water, passengers with luggage, crew and food. The latter does not significantly affect the overall numbers, since even on tankers with a deadweight of 100-150 thousand tons, the cumulative weight of fuel, water, food and a small crew totals mere hundreds of tons, thus, not altering the analysis results;

d) the report does not take into account the volumes of Russian crude oil and oil products exports to the Romanian and Bulgarian Black Sea ports and raid transshipments. For reference: In July 2022, those exports are estimated at about 3.1 million tons — 1.9 million tons to Romania and 1.2 million to Bulgaria. Of those, Russian crude oil accounts for about 2.4 million tons — 1.4 million tons to Romania and 1.0 million to Bulgaria;

e) for convenience, the tables and diagrams use the term «EU+» that besides the EU member states, also includes the US, the UK and Monaco. Such grouping is justified by the fact that Russia's oil and oil product exports to these countries are very small;

f) the Tanker Database given at the end of the report, uses the «crude oil tanker CPC» identification for tanker that transport crude oil from the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal. Tankers transporting crude oil from the Russian Federation are entered as just «crude oil tanker.»

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Table 1. Tankers Transporting Crude Oil from the Russian Black and Azov Seas Ports in August 2023 (database)

Data on shipowners and operators — from www.equasis.org
The first column of the table shows the date of a vessel's passage from the Sea of Marmara through the Dardanelles to the Aegean Sea

#	Name	IMO	DWT	Flag	Port of departure	Actual Time of Departure	Port of destination	Estimated Time of Arrival	Shipowner
02/08	ELANDRA SOUND Crude Oil Tanke	9821706	115666	Liberia	RU TAM TAMAN	ATD: 2023-07-31 07:55 LT	TR MAR MARMARA EREGLISI	ETA: 2023-08-02 18:00 LT	Registered owner SEA 51 LEASING CO LTD Care of Mansel Pte Ltd, 15-02, The Heeren, 260, Orchard Road, Singapore 238855 Ship manager/Commercial manager MANSEL PTE LTD 15-02, The Heeren, 260, Orchard Road, Singapore 238855
03/08	PLUTUS Crude Oil Tanker	9252955	71498	Panama	RU KAVKAZ SOUTH ANCH	ATD: 2023-07-31 09:06 LT	ID CIW CIWANDAN Indonesia [ID]	ATA: 2023-08-30 08:33 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager FRACTAL MARINE DMCC Unit 157, Level 5, DMCC Business Centre, Jewellery & Gemplex 2, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Registered owner PLUTUS LINES INC Care of Fractal Marine DMCC, Unit 157, Level 5, DMCC Business Centre, Jewellery & Gemplex 2, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
03/08	SOUTHPORT Crude Oil Tanke	9408530	115462	Marshall Is	RU KAVKAZ SOUTH ANCH	ATD: 2023-07-29 05:52 LT	IN SIK SIKKA	ETA: 2023-08-17 10:30 LT	Registered owner MIGHTY SOUTHPORT NAVIGATION Care of Active Denizcilik ve Gemi Isletmeciligi AS, 2 Caddesi 5, Dudullu OSB Mah, Umraniye, 34776 Istanbul, Turkey. Ship manager/Commercial manager ACTIVE DENIZCILIK VE GEMI 2 Caddesi 5, Dudullu OSB Mah, Umraniye, 34776 Istanbul, Turkey
04/08	LIPARI Crude Oil Tanker	9529487	158237	Liberia	RU NVS NOVOROS	ATD: 2023-08-01 02:32 LT	HR OMI OMISALJ	ATA: 2023-08-07 16:27 LT	Registered owner ALCESTE OWNING CO LTD Care of TMS Tankers Ltd, 109, Kifisias Avenue & Sina Street, Marousi, 151 24 Athens, Greece. Ship manager/Commercial manager TMS TANKERS LTD 109, Kifisias Avenue & Sina Street, Marousi, 151 24 Athens, Greece
05/08	NS BORA Crude Oil Tanker	9412335	156697	Liberia	RU NVS NOVOROS	ATD: 2023-08-02 14:02 LT	IN PRT PARADIP		Ship manager/Commercial manager SUN SHIP MANAGEMENT Office OT 17-32, 17th Floor, Office Tower, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box 507065, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Registered owner NS BORA SHIPPING INC Care of SUN Ship Management (D) Ltd, Office OT 17-32, 17th Floor, Office Tower, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box 507065, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
05/08	NS CONSUL Crude Oil Tanke	9341093	109716	Liberia	RU NVS NOVOROS	ATD: 2023-08-01 20:04 LT	IN BOM MUMBAI	ETA: 2023-08-20 05:31 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager SUN SHIP MANAGEMENT Office OT 17-32, 17th Floor, Office Tower, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box 507065, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Registered owner WATERSCAPE CARRIERS INC Care of SUN Ship Management (D) Ltd, Office OT 17-32, 17th Floor, Office Tower, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box 507065, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
06/08	STEALTH BERANA Crude Oil Tanke	9437672	115897	Liberia	RU TUA TUAPSE	ATD: 2023-07-31 16:52 LT	SG SIN SINGAPORE	ETA: 2023-08-27 09:00 LT	Registered owner CRUDE OIL SERVICES INT Care of Stealth Maritime Corp SA, 331, Kifisias Avenue, Kifisia, 145 61 Athens, Greece. Ship manager/Commercial manager STEALTH MARITIME CORP SA 331, Kifisias Avenue, Kifisia, 145 61 Athens, Greece.
…	MERCURY Crude Oil Tanker	9321706 626315000	158880	Gabon	RU NVS NOVOROS	ATD: 2023-07-30 02:12 LT	IN VAD VADINAR	ETA: 2023-08-20 20:00 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager MERCURY SHIPPING & MARINE INC Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake, Majuro MH 96960, Marshall Islands. Registered owner MERCURY SHIPPING & MARINE INC Trust Company Complex, Ajeltake Road, Ajeltake, Majuro MH 96960, Marshall Islands
08/08	OTTOMAN EQUITY Crude Oil Tanker	9404950	149999	Turkey	RU KAVKAZ SOUTH ANCH	ATD: 2023-08-04	SG SIN SINGAPORE	ETA: 2023-08-27 10:00 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager GUNGEN DENIZCILIK VE TICARET Halici Sokak 9, Gaziosmanpasa Mah, Cankaya, 06700 Ankara, Turkey. Registered owner GUNGEN DENIZCILIK VE TICARET Halici Sokak 9, Gaziosmanpasa Mah, Cankaya, 06700 Ankara, Turkey
08/08	SEMBRANI Crude Oil Tanker	9306639	109672	Marshall Is	RU NVS NOVOROS	ATD: 2023-07-31 05:42 LT	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	ATA: 2023-08-10 03:32 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager GEMILANG BINA LINTAS TIRTA PT Block C6, Danatama Square II, Jalan Mega Kuningan 12A, Kel Kuningan Timur, Jakarta, 12950, Indonesia. Registered owner CIMC SCORPIO LTD Care of PT Gemilang Bina Lintas Tirta, Block C6, Danatama Square II, Jalan Mega Kuningan 12A, Kel Kuningan Timur, Jakarta, 12950, Indonesia
11/08	FONTANA Crude Oil Tanker	9792541	159541	Marshall Is	RU NVS NOVOROS	ATD: 2023-08-08 14:34 LT	IN SIK SIKKA	ETA: 2023-08-26 02:00 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager TMS TANKERS LTD 109, Kifisias Avenue & Sina Street, Marousi, 151 24 Athens, Greece. Registered owner FELICIA OWNING CO LTD Care of TMS Tankers Ltd, 109, Kifisias Avenue & Sina Street, Marousi, 151 24 Athens, Greece.
12/08	LI BAI Crude Oil Tanker	9589750	158671	Panama	RU NVS NOVOROS	ATD: 2023-08-06 20:59 LT	CN DLC DALIAN	ETA: 2023-09-12 20:00 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager HAIMA SHIPPING LTD Mahe Island Seychelles. Registered owner HAIMA SHIPPING LTD Mahe Island Seychelles.
13/08	HEBE Crude Oil Tanker	9259185	107144	Panama	RU TUA TUAPSE	ATD: 2023-08-06 20:00 LT	MY TPP TANJUNG PELEPAS Malaysia [MY]	ETA: 2023-09-03 20:00 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager OCEANLINK SHIPPING & TRADING Office 1507-25B, 15th Floor, Exchange Tower, Business Bay, Bur Dubai, PO Box 334088, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Registered owner LOIRE SHIPPING INC Care of Oceanlink Shipping & Trading LLC, Office 1507-25B, 15th Floor, Exchange Tower, Business Bay, Bur Dubai, PO Box 334088, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
14/08	KRITI STATE Crude Oil Tanker	9324289	76565	Liberia	RU TUA TUAPSE	ATD: 2023-08-10 13:07 LT	SG SIN SINGAPORE	ETA: 2023-08-31 20:00 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager AVIN INTERNATIONAL LTD 12A, Irodou Attikou Street, Marousi, 151 24 Athens, Greece. Registered owner ARGO SHIPHOLDING SA Care of Avin International Ltd, 12A, Irodou Attikou Street, Marousi, 151 24 Athens, Greece
16/08	NISSOS IOS Crude Oil Tanker	9886770	157447	Marshall Is	RU NVS NOVOROS	ATD: 2023-08-13 08:48 LT	IN COK KOCHI	ETA: 2023-08-30 22:00 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager KYKLADES MARITIME CORP 2, Ethnarchou Makariou Street & Dimitrios Falireos Street, 185 47 Piraeus, Greece. Registered owner ATHINAIS MARITIME CORP Care of Kyklades Maritime Corp (Kyklades Naftiki Eteria), 2, Ethnarchou Makariou Street & Dimitrios Falireos Street, 185 47 Piraeus, Greece.
17/08	GIUSE Crude Oil Tanker	9231468	109390	Palau	RU NVS NOVOROS	ATD: 2023-08-12 22:11 LT	AE FJR FUJAIRAH	ETA: 2023-09-03 10:00 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager AL FAHAD ENERGY TRADING LTD PO Box 23, Duqm Special Economic Zone, 103 Duqm, Oman. Registered owner AL FAHAD ENERGY TRADING LTD PO Box 23, Duqm Special Economic Zone, 103 Duqm, Oman
18/08	ELANDRA EAGLE Crude Oil Tanker	9792474	157554	Marshall Is	RU NVS NOVOROS	ATD: 2023-08-15 22:23 LT	TR ALIAGA ANCH	ATA: 2023-08-19 07:06 LT	Registered owner SEA 100 LEASING CO LTD Care of Mansel Ltd, Belgrave House, 76, Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 9TQ, United Kingdom. Ship manager/Commercial manager MANSEL LTD Belgrave House, 76, Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 9TQ, United Kingdom.
26/08	GUANYIN Crude Oil Tanker	9299707	109857	Liberia	RU KAVKAZ SOUTH ANCH	ATD: 2023-08-21 20:38 LT	GR LAKONIKOS GULF	ATA: 2023-08-28 00:44 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager TEODOR SHIPPING LLC Office 1505, Exchange Tower, Business Bay, Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Registered owner DEV LINES INC Care of Teodor Shipping LLC, Office 1505, Exchange Tower, Business Bay, Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
26/08	BEKS LOTUS Crude Oil Tanker	9273442	72652	Marshall Is	RU NVS NOVOROS	ATD: 2023-08-24 08:13 LT	TR MAR MARMARA EREGLISI	ETA: 2023-08-26 00:00 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager BEKS TANKER ISLETMECILIGI AS Kapi 3, Kore Sehitleri Caddesi 48-50, Esentepe Mah, Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey. Registered owner LOTUS MARITIME & TRADING INC Care of Beks Tanker Isletmeciligi AS, Kapi 3, Kore Sehitleri Caddesi 48-50, Esentepe Mah, Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey.
28/08	SCF VANKOR Crude Oil Tanker	9316127	163545	Liberia	???	???	SA JED JEDDAH	ETA: 2023-08-30 21:00 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager SUN SHIP MANAGEMENT Office OT 17-32, 17th Floor, Office Tower, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box 507065, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Registered owner ANGELIC SEAS CORP Care of SUN Ship Management (D) Ltd, Office OT 17-32, 17th Floor, Office Tower, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box 507065, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
29/08	STEALTH HARALAMBOS Crude Oil Tanker	9386536	113021	Marshall Is	RU TUA TUAPSE	ATD: 2023-08-25 11:08 LT	IN SIK SIKKA	ETA: 2023-09-11 18:00 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager SIGNAL PROJECTS LTD 110, Vouliagmenis Avenue, Glyfada, 166 74 Athens, Greece. Registered owner TANK PASHA INC Care of Signal Projects Ltd, 110, Vouliagmenis Avenue, Glyfada, 166 74 Athens, Greece.
29/08	SFL LION Crude Oil Tanker	9664770	115162	Marshall Is	RU TUA TUAPSE	ATD: 2023-08-23 19:19 LT	SG SIN SINGAPORE	ETA: 2023-09-18 07:00 LT	Registered owner SFL LION INC Care of Frontline Management AS, Bryggegata 3, 0250 Oslo, Norway Ship manager/Commercial manager FRONTLINE MANAGEMENT AS Bryggegata 3, 0250 Oslo, Norway.
29/08	BLUE LAGOON I Crude Oil Tanker	9248447	148553	Panama	RU KAVKAZ SOUTH ANCH	ATD: 2023-08-25 19:34 LT	CN DLC DALIAN	ETA: 2023-09-29 20:01 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager SEA TRADE MARINE SA 108, Vasileos Pavlou Street, Voula, 166 73 Athens, Greece. Registered owner BLUE LAGOON COMMERCIAL ENT Care of Sea Trade Marine SA, 108, Vasileos Pavlou Street, Voula, 166 73 Athens, Greece.
30/08	ADVANTAGE LOVE Crude Oil Tanker	9708552	109999	Marshall Is	RU NVS NOVOROS	ATD: 2023-08-26 19:35 LT	SG SIN SINGAPORE	ETA: 2023-09-18 18:27 LT	Registered owner MINSHENG YANGJIE TIANJIN SHPG Care of Scorpio Commercial Management SAM, Le Millenium, 9, boulevard Charles III, 98000 Monaco-Ville, Monaco. Ship manager/Commercial manager SCORPIO COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT Le Millenium, 9, boulevard Charles III, 98000 Monaco-Ville, Monaco
31/08	NISSOS ANTIMILOS Crude Oil Tanker	9895226	157447	Marshall Is	RU NVS NOVOROS	ATD: 2023-08-28 03:30 LT	MM KYP KYAUKPYU Myanmar [MM]	ETA: 2023-09-18 23:30 LT	Ship manager/Commercial manager KYKLADES MARITIME CORP 2, Ethnarchou Makariou Street & Dimitrios Falireos Street, 185 47 Piraeus, Greece. Registered owner CHANTILLY ENTERPRISES CO Care of Kyklades Maritime Corp (Kyklades Naftiki Eteria), 2, Ethnarchou Makariou Street & Dimitrios Falireos Street, 185 47 Piraeus, Greece

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This article has been prepared with the support of the European Union in Ukraine. The content of the article is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the position of the EU.

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Russian Black Sea Crude Oil Exports in April 2022 - August 2023 and Reasons Behind the Drop

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