India Supplies Gasoline to Russia Following Domestic Refinery Disruptions
India has become a key fuel supplier to Russia, shipping nearly 1 million barrels of gasoline over the past two months to help Moscow manage a severe domestic fuel deficit.
What Happened
Data from energy analytics firm Vortexa shows Russia imported a record 125,000 barrels per day (kbd) of seaborne gasoline in August, amounting to approximately 470,000 tonnes. India supplied fuel alongside Turkey and Morocco to help cover the shortfalls.
The shipments from India were largely dispatched from Nayara Energy’s Vadinar refinery located in Gujarat. The facility is 50 percent owned by Russian oil major Rosneft. This comes as India increased its intake of Russian crude, importing over 2.6 million barrels per day in June and July compared to 1 million barrels per day in February, meaning Indian facilities likely refined Russian crude into gasoline before shipping it back.
Vortexa reported that all India-origin gasoline cargoes received by Russia in August were moved using sanctioned vessels and involved dark ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in the Mediterranean Sea, where vessels deactivated their automatic identification system (AIS) transponders. Overall, roughly 40 percent of Russia’s August gasoline imports were transferred via STS operations, and 55 percent arrived on sanctioned tonnage.
Key Highlights
- India sent nearly 1 million barrels of gasoline to Russia across two months.
- Russia’s August seaborne gasoline imports reached around 125,000 barrels per day.
- Supplies primarily originated from Nayara Energy’s refinery in Gujarat, half-owned by Rosneft.
- Ukrainian drone strikes hit Russian refineries 32 times during July and August, lowering domestic gasoline output by up to 70 percent.
- Russia extended its ban on gasoline exports through January 2027 and its diesel export ban through September 1, 2026.
- All Indian gasoline shipments arrived on sanctioned fleets using dark ship-to-ship transfers.
Why This Matters
The disruption follows 32 drone strikes against Russian refineries in July and August, averaging an attack every two days. These strikes reduced Russia’s domestic gasoline production by as much as 70 percent. Although Russia is among the largest crude oil exporters in the world, the significant decline in refining capacity has forced it to seek finished fuel abroad to meet local needs while curbing outward product flows.
As a result of the shortages, Russia’s seaborne diesel and gasoil exports fell to about 150,000 barrels per day through August 25, which is 81 percent below the five-year seasonal average. Moscow has also prolonged export bans on gasoline through January 2027 and diesel through September 1, 2026.
What to Watch Next
According to Vortexa, Russia is anticipated to continue importing gasoline in the near term because of its historically lower gasoline-to-diesel production yields and ongoing constraints on local refining infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Russia importing gasoline from India?
Repeated drone strikes on Russian refineries reduced domestic gasoline output by up to 70 percent, leaving the country with supply deficits that required overseas imports.
Which Indian refinery supplied the fuel?
The gasoline shipments largely originated from Nayara Energy’s Vadinar refinery in Gujarat, in which Russia’s Rosneft holds a 50 percent stake.
How were the gasoline shipments transported?
According to Vortexa, all India-origin cargoes imported by Russia in August were transported via sanctioned shipping fleets and underwent dark ship-to-ship transfers in the Mediterranean.
Source: Based on reporting from The Times of India and data from Vortexa.