Why Russia is Importing Petrol from India Amidst Refinery Disruptions

In a notable shift in global energy trade, Russia has begun importing refined petrol from India, alongside supplies from Belarus and Kazakhstan, to tackle domestic shortages caused by attacks on its refining infrastructure.

Key Highlights:
- Impact of Drone Attacks: Prolonged Ukrainian drone strikes on major Russian refineries—including plants in Moscow, Omsk, Ryazan, and Orsk—have significantly degraded Russia's refining capacity, dropping crude processing to multi-year lows.
- First Shipment from India: Nayara Energy's Vadinar refinery in Gujarat dispatched a shipment of approximately 42,000 tons of petrol, which reached Russia in early August after a ship-to-ship transfer at Egypt's Damietta port.
- Shifting Energy Dynamics: While Russia remains a primary supplier of crude oil to India (accounting for over 55% of India's crude imports in July), the reverse flow of refined fuel highlights how severe domestic imbalances can turn a major energy exporter into a temporary importer.