NEW DELHI, (Economy India):India has emerged as an important supplier of petrol to Russia as repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries have disrupted domestic fuel production and created shortages across the country.
Russia’s seaborne gasoline imports surged sharply in August, reaching around 125,000 barrels per day, according to energy analytics firm Vortexa. The volume is projected to reach approximately 470,000 tonnes for the month, highlighting Russia’s growing dependence on imported fuel.
Indian refiners supplied nearly 1 million barrels of gasoline to Russia over the past two months, according to trade sources and shipping data. Much of the supply reportedly originated from the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat, operated by Nayara Energy, which is partly owned by Russian oil giant Rosneft.
The development marks a significant shift in global energy trade. Russia is one of the world’s largest crude oil producers, but refinery disruptions have reduced its ability to convert crude oil into petrol and other refined products needed for domestic consumption.
Repeated drone attacks have forced shutdowns and reduced operations at several major Russian refineries. By late August, Russia’s gasoline production had reportedly fallen to around 70% of domestic demand, intensifying shortages and forcing the country to increase fuel imports.
India’s role in supplying petrol has become particularly important because of its large and sophisticated refining industry. Indian refiners purchase crude oil from multiple international suppliers, process it into petroleum products and export fuel to markets around the world.
The Vadinar refinery has emerged as a key source of supplies. Nayara Energy’s connection with Rosneft has also added an interesting dimension to the trade, with fuel refined in India helping meet shortages in Russia.
The growing petrol trade comes at a time when economic and energy cooperation between India and Russia continues to expand. The latest fuel shipments demonstrate how changing geopolitical conditions and disruptions in energy infrastructure can quickly reshape global trade routes.
As Russia continues to deal with refinery disruptions and fuel shortages, India could remain an important source of refined petroleum products in the coming months. The situation also underlines India’s increasing importance as a major global refining and energy-export hub.
(Economy India)
