Shipping data shows that Indian diesel exports to West Africa have increased as a result of the EU's ban on Russian crude-derived fuel.
Shipping data from Kpler & Vortexa revealed that India stopped exporting Diesel to the European Union in this month because of the EU's 'ban' on fuels derived from Russian crude. Turkey's exports of diesel to the EU have slowed down over the past few months. These developments show that the EU's policy to punish Russia for its full-scale invasion in Ukraine 2022 is causing a reordering of oil flows between continents. This forces India's refineries to find new markets, and disrupts Turkey's lucrative fuel trade with the EU. Clare Morris, an analyst with Energy Aspects, said that the most likely "re-shuffle" would see more Indian diesel going to Africa and freeing up Middle Eastern supplies for Europe. According to Kpler, Russian crude will make up 30% of India’s seaborne oil imports by 2025. It represented 48% of Turkey’s?seaborne oil imports last season.
According to Kpler, India hasn't sent any diesel into the EU yet in January. In 2025, it exported an average of 137,000 barrels per day.
Kpler data revealed that Turkey sent around 45,000 barrels of diesel per day to the EU before the EU ban began on January 21. This is down dramatically from 87,000 barrels a month by 2025.
The EU will only allow fuel imports if oil refineries can separate Russian crude. A refinery cannot import Russian crude within the 60 days preceding the bill of loading date of the cargo if it wants to continue exporting fuel to?the EU.
According to Kpler, Reliance, the Indian oil refinery owned by the state-owned Socar in Azerbaijan, has been the largest fuel exporter from India to the EU for the past few years. Star, the Turkish oil refinery, which is owned by the Azerbaijani Socar, has been the top Turkish exporter. Star imported Russian crude oil in January.
According to Kpler's report, Turkey's largest oil refinery Tupras stopped Russian crude imports at Izmir in November. The other plant, Izmit continued Urals imports during this month. "Turkey doesn't have a natural affinity for diesel. It has been importing Russian diesel to its domestic market, and selling locally produced diesel into Europe. Morris stated that the new ban on'refining loopholes' should stop this activity. INDIAN DIEL EXPORTS TO NORTH AFRICA REACH ALL-TIME HIGH According to Kpler's January data, India's diesel imports to North Africa are on pace to hit an all-time record in December.
Kpler data show that EU countries' fuel exports to the U.S., Middle East and other countries hit a record high of three months in January. This was because the bloc diversified its supply before the ban.
(source: Reuters)
