In January 2023, Russia made up for the reduction in its Black Sea crude oil exports to the EU by increasing exports to non-EU countries: Monitoring
The Monitoring Group of BlackSeaNews
and the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies
The Monitoring Group of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies and BlackSeaNews reports on the results of its own monitoring of seaborne exports of Russia’s crude oil to non-EU countries in January 2023.
Summary
In December 2022 and January 2023, the volume of Russia’s Black Sea crude oil exports to non-EU countries grew by 0.4 million tons each month, or by an average of 25% month on month. In January 2023, we recorded the highest export volume since April 2022 – 2,394,306 tons.
It can be concluded that as of January 2023, Russia managed to make up for the reduction in its Black Sea crude oil exports to "EU+" countries by increasing its exports to non-EU countries.
Thus, the total volume of Russia’s Black Sea exports of crude oil, which began to plummet in June 2022 after the EU decision on the future embargo, has been rapidly recovering since November 2022. Note that this situation would be fundamentally different but for the exports to EU countries in violation of the embargo, which reached about 1.2 million tons.
In January 2023, 22 tankers, 10 of which belong to shipowners from Greece, transported Russian crude oil to 9 non-EU countries.
The full text of the report
Important notes:
a) The Russian Federation exports crude oil and petroleum products (fuel oil, gas oil, and solar oil) from the ports on the Black and Azov Seas. They are exported by different types of vessels – crude oil tankers and oil/chemical tankers (or oil products tankers) respectively. Crude oil tankers are usually very large: in the Black Sea, one such tanker takes from 100 to 150 thousand tons of crude oil. Oil products tankers have a significantly lower freight-carrying capacity: the commonest are in the ranges of 3-5 and 25-30 thousand tons. The monthly ratio between the volume of exports of Russia’s crude oil and petroleum products is approximately 3:1.
b) Two separate streams of crude oil are exported from Black Sea ports: crude oil of the Russian Federation (from the ports of Novorossiysk, Taman, and Tuapse, from the transshipment points in the Kerch Strait and to the south of it) and crude oil of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) - from a separate terminal of the port of Novorossiysk. The CPC’s crude oil contains 80% of Kazakh oil and 20% of oil produced in Kazakhstan by the Russian company Lukoil. Kazakh oil is not under sanctions, although it is transported through the territory of the Russian Federation.
c) In tables and figures presenting the volume of crude oil and petroleum products exports, the term DWT (deadweight) is used - a measure of how much weight a ship can carry. It is the sum of the weights of cargo, fuel, lubricants, technical and drinking water, passengers, luggage, crew, and provisions. When analysing the transportation of large volumes of oil and petroleum products, other types of cargoes carried by a ship do not significantly influence the results, since even on tankers with a deadweight of 100-150 thousand tons, the sum of the weights of fuel, water, provisions, and a small crew is in the hundreds of tons and does not affect the results of the analysis.
d) This analytical report does not take into account the export volume of crude oil and petroleum products from the Russian Federation to the Black Sea ports and transshipment points of Romania and Bulgaria.
Reference: In July 2022, these exports were estimated to be around 3.1 million tons (1.9 million tons to Romania and 1.2 million tons to Bulgaria). Of these volumes, Russia’s crude oil accounted for about 2.4 million tons (1.4 million tons to Romania and 1.0 million tons to Bulgaria).
e) In tables and figures, for convenience, the term "EU+" is used, which covers not only EU member states but also the USA, the UK, and Monaco. The appropriateness of such grouping is justified by the fact that the exports of oil and petroleum products of the Russian Federation to these countries are very insignificant.
f) In the database of oil tankers at the end of the article, “Crude oil tanker CPC” means that this tanker carries oil from the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s terminal. Tankers carrying crude oil of the Russian Federation are marked as "Crude oil tankers."
* * *
Table 1. Exports of Russia’s crude oil from Black Sea ports to non-EU countries in April 2022-January 2023
Starting from December 2022, and in particular since 5 December 2022, when the EU embargo and the price cap came into effect, there has been a significant increase in the exports of Russia’s seaborne crude oil from the Black Sea to countries other than "EU+" states (non-EU countries).
The volume of Russia’s Black Sea crude oil exports to non-EU countries in December 2022 and January 2023 grew by 0.4 million tons each month, or by an average of 25% month on month.
In January 2023, we recorded the highest export volume since April 2022 – 2,394,306 tons (See Table 1, Figure 1).
Moreover,
if we compare the trends in Russia’s Black Sea exports of crude oil to "EU+" states and other countries during the period of our monitoring, we can conclude that as of January 2023, Russia managed to make up for the reduction in its Black Sea crude oil exports to "EU+" countries by increasing its exports to non-EU states (See Figure 2).
Thus, the total volume of Russia’s Black Sea exports of crude oil, which began to plummet in June 2022 after the EU decision on the future embargo, has been rapidly recovering since November 2022 (See Figure 3).
Note that this situation would be fundamentally different but for the exports to EU countries in violation of the embargo, which reached about 1.2 million tons.
In January 2023, 22 tankers transported Russian crude oil to 9 non-EU countries, which are presented below, in descending order.
-
India [IN] – 751,556 tons (an increase by 17,968 tons, or 2.4%, compared to December), 5 tankers.
-
Turkey [TR] – 465,983 tons (a month-on-month increase by 199,426 tons, or 74.8%), 5 tankers.
-
Singapore [SG] – 300,392 tons (a month-on-month increase by 80,016 tons, or 36.3%), 3 tankers.
-
China [CN] – 261,719 tons (a month-on-month increase by 111,724 tons, or 74.5%), 2 tankers.
-
Tunisia [TN] – 228,587 tons (a month-on-month increase by 155,156 tons, or 211.3%), 2 tankers.
-
The UAE [AE] – 155,978 tons (a month-on-month increase by 42,129 tons, or 37.0%), 2 tankers.
-
Brazil [BR] – 105,484 tons (the same volume as in December), 1 tanker.
-
Oman [OM] – 74,269 tons (there were no imports in December), 1 tanker.
-
Senegal [SN] – 50,338 tons (from April to December, there were no imports), 1 tanker.
The breakdown of the 22 oil tankers that transported Russia’s crude oil to non-EU countries in January 2023 by country of shipowner registration is as follows (See Table 2 for details).
-
10 tankers – Greece.
-
3 tankers – Russia (the subsidiaries of the Russian Sovcomflot, registered in Dubai, the UAE).
-
3 tankers – Turkey.
-
2 tankers – India.
-
2 tankers – Liberia.
-
1 tanker – Vietnam.
-
1 tanker – Libya.
The information on shipowner companies and operating companies is provided by www.equasis.org
Theoretically, the exports of Russian crude oil by tankers of an EU country (Greece) should be carried out in compliance with the price cap established by the EU and G7 decisions. This is the sphere of the Greek government control.
Table 2. Tankers that transported Russia’s crude oil from Russian ports on the Black Sea to non-EU countries in January 2023
|
# |
Name |
IMO |
DWT |
Flag |
Port of departure |
Actual time of departure |
Port of destination |
Estimated time of arrival |
Shipowner |
|
India [IN] |
|||||||||
|
1 |
MELOGY Crude Oil Tanker |
9247376 |
159924 |
Vietnam |
RU NVS NOVOROSSIYSK |
ATD: 2022-12-28 15:49 LT |
IN COK KOCHI |
ETA: 2023-01-24 21:30 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager THANG LONG GAS CO LTD Luu Xa Gas Industrial Cluster, Quat Dong Ward, Thuong Tin District, Hanoi City, Vietnam. Registered owner THANG LONG GAS CO LTD Luu Xa Gas Industrial Cluster, Quat Dong Ward, Thuong Tin District, Hanoi City, Vietnam. |
|
2 |
ALEKSEY KOSYGIN Crude Oil Tanker |
9316127 |
163545 |
Liberia |
RU NVS NOVOROSSIYSK |
ATD: 2023-01-04 07:24 LT |
IN PRT PARADIP |
ETA: 2023-02-01 12:00 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. |
|
3 |
NISSOS DELOS Crude Oil Tanker |
9592305 |
115691 |
Marshall Is |
RU TUA TUAPSE |
ATD: 2023-01-03 16:30 LT |
IN SIK SIKKA |
ETA: 2023-01-27 16:00 LT |
Registered owner MIF I NO 4 K/S Care of Kyklades Maritime Corp (Kyklades Naftiki Eteria), 2, Ethnarchou Makariou Street & Dimitrios Falireos Street, 185 47 Piraeus, Greece. Ship manager/Commercial manager KYKLADES MARITIME CORP 2, Ethnarchou Makariou Street & Dimitrios Falireos Street, 185 47 Piraeus, Greece. |
|
4 |
OTTOMAN TENACITY Crude Oil Tanker |
9590682 |
149999 |
Turkey |
RU NVS NOVOROSSIYSK |
ATD: 2023-01-11 01:57 LT |
IN COK KOCHI |
ETA: 2023-02-07 16:30 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. |
|
5 |
VLADIMIR TIKHONOV Crude Oil Tanker |
9311622 |
162397 |
Liberia |
RU NVS NOVOROSSIYSK |
ATD: 2023-01-14 08:10 LT |
IN MUN MUNDRA |
ETA: 2023-02-10 03:00 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 BASSETT OCEANWAY LTD 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 |
|
Turkey [TR] |
|||||||||
|
1 |
ADAFERA Crude Oil Tanker |
9258478 |
105215 |
Libya |
RU KAVKAZ SOUTH ANCH |
ATD: 2023-01-08 04:04 LT |
TR MAR MARMARA EREGLISI |
ATA: 2023-01-14 21:07 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager GENERAL NATIONAL MARITIME Mahlet Alwahda Alarabia, PO Box 80173, Gergarish Road, Abu Nawas, Tripoli, Libya. Registered owner LIBYAN MARITIME CARRIER LTD Care of General National Maritime Transport Co (GNMTC), Mahlet Alwahda Alarabia, PO Box 80173, Gergarish Road, Abu Nawas, Tripoli, Libya. |
|
2 |
ATACAMA Crude Oil Tanker |
9248801 |
40039 |
St. Kitts and Nevis |
RU KAVKAZ SOUTH ANCH |
ATD: 2023-01-12 18:00 LT |
TR KORFEZ ANCH |
ATA: 2023-01-15 12:09 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager GATIK SHIP MANAGEMENT M/S E-306, 3rd Floor, Eastern Business District, Neptune Magnet Mall, Lal Bahadur Shastri Road, Bhandup (W), Mumbai, 400078, India. Registered owner MARINE COMPASS INC Care of m/s Gatik Ship Management, E-306, 3rd Floor, Eastern Business District, Neptune Magnet Mall, Lal Bahadur Shastri Road, Bhandup (W), Mumbai, 400078, India. |
|
3 |
DELTA BLUE Crude Oil Tanker |
9601235 |
158322 |
Liberia |
RU NVS NOVOROSSIYSK |
ATD: 2023-01-15 02:15 LT |
TR KFZ KORFEZ |
ATA: 2023-01-20 08:17 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager DELTA TANKERS LTD 58B, Zefyrou Street, Palaio Faliro, 175 64 Athens, Greece. Registered owner NERIDA MARITIME INC Care of Delta Tankers Ltd, 58B, Zefyrou Street, Palaio Faliro, 175 64 Athens, Greece. |
|
4 |
NISSOS SERIFOS Crude Oil Tanker |
9592264 |
115688 |
Marshall Is |
RU NVS NOVOROSSIYSK |
ATD: 2023-01-20 18:43 LT |
TR KFZ KORFEZ |
ATA: 2023-01-26 14:15 LT |
Registered owner MIF I NO 7 K/S Care of Kyklades Maritime Corp (Kyklades Naftiki Eteria), 2, Ethnarchou Makariou Street & Dimitrios Falireos Street, 185 47 Piraeus, Greece. Ship manager/Commercial manager KYKLADES MARITIME CORP 2, Ethnarchou Makariou Street & Dimitrios Falireos Street, 185 47 Piraeus, Greece. |
|
5 |
TAXIARHIS Crude Oil Tanker |
9276016 |
46719 |
Liberia |
RU TUA TUAPSE |
ATD: 2023-01-26 11:00 LT |
TR KORFEZ ANCH |
ATA: 2023-01-30 02:38 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager FLYNN VENTURES LTD 24, Kanari Street, 106 75 Athens, Greece. Registered owner CIRCINUS CORP Care of Flynn Ventures Ltd, 24, Kanari Street, 106 75 Athens, Greece. |
|
Singapore [SG] |
|||||||||
|
1 |
AGIOS GERASIMOS Crude Oil Tanker |
9693056 |
109999 |
Malta |
RU TAM TAMAN |
ATD: 2022-12-16 19:39 LT |
OPL GR KLX changed the port of destination to SG SIN |
ETA: 2023-01-22 16:00 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN MTME-LIE 69, Grigoriou Lampraki Street, Glyfada, 166 75 Athens, Greece. Registered owner YPSOUS SHIPPING LTD Care of Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Ltd (EASTMED), 69, Grigoriou Lampraki Street, Glyfada, 166 75 Athens, Greece. |
|
2 |
PACIFIC SKY Crude Oil Tanker |
9408554 |
115395 |
Malta |
RU TAM TAMAN |
ATD: 2022-12-29 09:59 LT |
SG SIN SINGAPORE |
ETA: 2023-02-04 18:00 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager ACTIVE DENIZCILIK VE GEMI 2 Caddesi 5, Dudullu OSB Mah, Umraniye, 34776 Istanbul, Turkey. Registered owner GLORY PACIFIC SKY NAVIGATION Care of Active Denizcilik ve Gemi Isletmeciligi AS, 2 Caddesi 5, Dudullu OSB Mah, Umraniye, 34776 Istanbul, Turkey. |
|
3 |
SOVEREIGN Crude Oil Tanker |
9390939 |
74998 |
Liberia |
RU TUA TUAPSE |
ATD: 2023-01-13 06:54 LT |
SG SIN SINGAPORE |
Registered owner XIANG T96 HK INTERNATIONAL Care of Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd (DTM), 94, Poseidonos Avenue & 2, Nikis Street, Glyfada, 166 75 Athens, Greece. Ship manager/Commercial manager DYNACOM TANKERS MANAGEMENT LTD 94, Poseidonos Avenue & 2, Nikis Street, Glyfada, 166 75 Athens, Greece |
|
|
Tunisia [TN] |
|||||||||
|
1 |
HS EVERETT Crude Oil Tanker |
9410870 |
113010 |
Liberia |
RU TUA TUAPSE |
ATD: 2022-12-24 01:46 LT |
AE FJR changed the port of destination to TN LSK |
ETA: 2023-01-10 11:00 LT
ATA: 2023-01-10 12:38 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager HS EVERETT LTD 80, Broad Street, Monrovia, Liberia. Registered owner HS EVERETT LTD 80, Broad Street, Monrovia, Liberia. |
|
2 |
ODYSSEUS Crude Oil Tanker |
9332810 |
115577 |
St.Kitts and Nevis |
RU NVS NOVOROSSIYSK |
ATD: 2023-01-14 19:28 LT |
TN BIZ BIZERTE |
ETA: 2023-01-25 13:00 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager GATIK SHIP MANAGEMENT M/S E-306, 3rd Floor, Eastern Business District, Neptune Magnet Mall, Lal Bahadur Shastri Road, Bhandup (W), Mumbai, 400078, India. Registered owner NEW ODYSSEY INC Care of m/s Gatik Ship Management, E-306, 3rd Floor, Eastern Business District, Neptune Magnet Mall, Lal Bahadur Shastri Road, Bhandup (W), Mumbai, 400078, India. |
|
China [CN] |
|||||||||
|
1 |
MINERVA ELEONORA Crude Oil Tanker |
9276573 |
103622 |
Liberia |
RU NVS NOVOROSSIYSK |
ATD: 2023-01-01 14:41 LT |
CN LYG LIANYUNGANG |
ETA: 2023-02-10 20:00 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager MINERVA MARINE INC 141-143, Vouliagmenis Avenue & 1 Aiolou Street, Voula, 166 73 Athens, Greece. Registered owner ELEONORA SHIPOWNING SA Care of Minerva Marine Inc, 141-143, Vouliagmenis Avenue & 1 Aiolou Street, Voula, 166 73 Athens, Greece. |
|
2 |
SCF BAIKAL Crude Oil Tanker |
9422457 |
158097 |
Liberia |
RU KAVKAZ SOUTH ANCH |
ATD: 2023-01-09 15:00 LT |
CN ZOS ZHOUSHAN |
ETA: 2023-02-20 02:00 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager SUN SHIP MANAGEMENTOffice OT 17-32, 17th Floor, Office Tower, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, PO Box 507065, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Registered owner CAMBER 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. |
|
Oman [OM] |
|||||||||
|
1 |
ALPINE PERSEFONE Crude Oil Tanker |
9379961 |
74269 |
Liberia |
RU NVS NOVOROSSIYSK |
ATD: 2023-01-03 10:33 LT |
GR NEAPOLI ANCH changed the port of destination to OM SOH |
ATA: 2023-01-15 14:59 LT
ETA: 2023-01-30 21:00 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager OCEANGOLD TANKERS INC Status Center, 41, Athinas Avenue, Vouliagmeni, 166 71 Athens, Greece. Registered owner BAYSIDE SHIPPING LTD Care of OceanGold Tankers Inc, Status Center, 41, Athinas Avenue, Vouliagmeni, 166 71 Athens, Greece. |
|
Brazil [BR] |
|||||||||
|
1 |
MINERVA ARIES Crude Oil Tanker |
9412177 |
105484 |
Liberia |
RU NVS NOVOROSSIYSK |
ATD: 2023-01-07 00:10 LT |
VATIKA BAY (GR) changed the port of destination to BR TRM |
ETA: 2023-02-07 18:00 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager MINERVA MARINE INC 141-143, Vouliagmenis Avenue & 1 Aiolou Street, Voula, 166 73 Athens, Greece. Registered owner FLUTURA HOLDINGS CO Care of Minerva Marine Inc, 141-143, Vouliagmenis Avenue & 1 Aiolou Street, Voula, 166 73 Athens, Greece |
|
Senegal [SN] |
|||||||||
|
1 |
ST.ANDREW Crude Oil Tanker |
9308144 |
50338 |
Liberia |
RU NVS NOVOROSSIYSK |
ATD: 2023-01-18 01:41 LT |
SN DKR DAKAR |
ETA: 2023-02-03 19:00 LT UTC |
Ship manager/Commercial manager SPINEL SEAWAY LTD 80, Broad Street, Monrovia, Liberia. Registered owner SPINEL SEAWAY LTD 80, Broad Street, Monrovia, Liberia. |
|
United Arab Emirates [AE] |
|||||||||
|
1 |
BEKS FENIX Crude Oil Tanker |
9356751 |
49933 |
Marshall Is |
RU NVS NOVOROSSIYSK |
ATD: 2023-01-23 00:31 LT |
AE FJR FUJAIRAH |
ETA: 2023-02-11 22:00 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager BEKS GEMI ISLETMECILIGI VE TIC Kore Sehitleri Caddesi 48/50, Esentepe Mah, Sisli, 34394 Istanbul, Turkey. Registered owner COLEUS MARITIME & TRADING INC Care of Beks Gemi Isletmeciligi ve Ticaret AS (Beks Shipmanagement & Trading SA), Kore Sehitleri Caddesi 48/50, Esentepe Mah, Sisli, 34394 Istanbul, Turkey. |
|
2 |
SOUSTA Crude Oil Tanker |
9384992 |
106045 |
Marshall Is |
RU TAM TAMAN |
ATD: 2023-01-15 04:39 LT |
AE FJR FUJAIRAH |
ETA: 2023-02-13 03:00 LT |
Ship manager/Commercial manager SPRING MARINE MANAGEMENT SA 1st Floor, 6, Agias Kiriakis, Palaio Faliro, 175 64 Athens, Greece. Registered owner SOUSTA SHIPPING CO Care of Spring Marine Management SA, 1st Floor, 6, Agias Kiriakis, Palaio Faliro, 175 64 Athens, Greece. |
* * *
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
More on the topic
- 15.10.2024 Russian Baltic Sea Ports Petroleum Products Imports to the EU Embargo: Database of September 2024 Violations
- 15.10.2024 Russian Crude Oil Imports to the EU Embargo Through the Russian Baltic Sea Ports: Database of September 2024 Violations
- 14.10.2024 99 Tankers Exported Crude Oil from Russian Baltic Sea Ports in September 2024: Database
- 14.10.2024 Maritime Exports of Russian Petroleum Products Through its Baltic Sea Ports: September 2024 Database
- 11.10.2024 Russian Black Sea Ports Oil Product Imports to the EU Embargo: Database of September 2024 Violations
- 11.10.2024 Russian Crude Oil Imports to the EU Embargo: Database of September 2024 Violations
- 10.10.2024 40 Tankers Exported Kazakh Oil from Russian Black Sea Port of Novorossiysk In September 2024: Database
- 09.10.2024 193 Tankers Exported Crude Oil and Oil Products from Russian Black Sea Ports in September 2024: Database
- 16.09.2024 Russian Crude Oil Imports to the EU Embargo: Database of August 2024 Violations
- 13.09.2024 Russian Black Sea Ports Oil Product Imports to the EU Embargo: Database of August 2024 Violations
- 13.09.2024 89 Tankers Exported Crude Oil from Russian Baltic Sea Ports in August 2024: Database
- 12.09.2024 Russian Crude Oil Imports to the EU Embargo Through the Russian Baltic Sea Ports: Database of August 2024 Violations