Russia turns to Indian gasoline imports as Ukrainian strikes spark fuel shortages

Russia has begun importing gasoline by sea from India as it seeks to ease fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure, according to a Reuters report, citing industry sources.

The move comes as fuel shortages are being reported across Russia, leading to rationing, long queues at filling stations and a sharp increase in gasoline prices.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Russia was in contact with other countries and discussing fuel imports at acceptable prices.

According to the report, citing one industry source, said that at least 60,000 metric tonnes of gasoline had already been dispatched from India to Russia.

Two tankers carrying between 30,000 and 40,000 tonnes each had been sent, added the report, citing another source.

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A third source said Russia plans to import a total of 400,000 tonnes of gasoline per month from various countries, including neighbouring Belarus, which is already supplying fuel to Russia.

Gasoline consumption in Russia typically exceeds 110,000 tonnes per day during the summer months, when demand is at its highest.

The identity of the Indian refiner supplying the gasoline was not immediately known.

Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged on Sunday that Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries had contributed to fuel shortages in some regions, but said authorities were addressing the issue.

Belarus has also increased fuel shipments to Russia.

According to Reuters calculations and industry sources, Belarus nearly tripled its gasoline rail exports to Russia to more than 70,000 tonnes in the first half of June compared with the first half of May.

Last week, Russia's parliament approved amendments to the country's tax code aimed at addressing fuel shortages linked to Ukrainian drone attacks. The measures include subsidies for fuel imports, calculated on the basis of Indian delivery costs and prices.

The development comes as India's imports of Russian crude oil surged to a record high in June, according to ship-tracking data from LSEG and Kpler. Indian refiners increased purchases of Russian oil to offset disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and to secure alternative sources of supply.

Kpler data showed Russian oil accounted for more than half of India's total crude imports in June, up from 36.5 per cent in May.

Preliminary data from Kpler and LSEG indicated that India, the world's third-largest oil importer, received about 2.70 million barrels per day of crude oil from Russia in June.

With inputs from agencies