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Russia's seaborne fuel exports sank 17% in September after drone attacks

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on October 13, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 21, 2026

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Russia's seaborne fuel exports sank 17% in September after drone attacks
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MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's seaborne oil product exports fell 17.1% in September from August to 7.58 million metric tons due to less fuel production as various refineries were impacted by drone attacks

Russia's Fuel Exports Plummet 17% in September Following Drone Strikes

Impact of Drone Attacks on Fuel Exports

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's seaborne oil product exports fell 17.1% in September from August to 7.58 million metric tons due to less fuel production as various refineries were impacted by drone attacks, data from industry sources and Reuters calculations showed.

Several major refineries were attacked by drones in August and September, including Surgutneftegaz's Kirishinefteorgsintez refinery, Lukoil's Volgograd refinery and Rosneft's Samara group of refineries.

The resulting unplanned outages at a number of key refineries curtailed fuel exports and drove up crude oil shipments, market sources said.

Refinery Attacks and Production Loss

In September, total oil product exports via the Baltic ports of Primorsk, Vysotsk, St Petersburg and Ust-Luga fell by 15.4% month-on-month to 4.36 million tons, data from market sources showed.

Regional Export Trends

Fuel exports via Russia's Black Sea and Azov Sea ports last month decreased 23.2% from August to 2.52 million tons.

Baltic Ports Performance

Oil product exports from Russia's Arctic ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk rose slightly in September - by 1.8% on a monthly basis - to 30,200 tons.

Black Sea and Arctic Exports

Fuel export loadings at Russia's Far East ports were down 1.5% month-on-month last month to 661,300 tons, data from sources and Reuters calculations showed.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

Key Takeaways

  • Russia's seaborne fuel exports fell 17% in September.
  • Drone attacks impacted major refineries, reducing output.
  • Baltic ports saw a 15.4% decrease in fuel exports.
  • Black Sea ports experienced a 23.2% export drop.
  • Arctic ports slightly increased exports by 1.8%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is seaborne fuel export?
Seaborne fuel export refers to the transportation of fuel products via ships from one country to another. It is a significant aspect of international trade in energy resources.
What are drone attacks?
Drone attacks involve the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to strike specific targets. In the context of the article, these attacks impacted oil refineries in Russia.
What is a refinery?
A refinery is an industrial facility where raw materials, such as crude oil, are processed and transformed into usable products like gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products.
What is the Baltic Sea?
The Baltic Sea is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in Northern Europe, bordered by several countries including Sweden, Finland, and the Baltic states.
What is crude oil?
Crude oil is a naturally occurring, unrefined petroleum product composed of hydrocarbon deposits and other organic materials. It is a primary source of energy and raw material for various products.

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