Russian gasoline output falls to 70% of domestic demand after drone strikes - Reuters

Current gasoline production stands at around 80,000 metric tons per day, compared with estimated summer demand of about 115,000 tons, leaving a daily shortfall of roughly 35,000 tons.

Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian energy infrastructure in an effort to reduce Moscow’s revenues from the sector. Over the past week, drones struck and halted operations at major refineries in Perm, Nizhny Novgorod and Yaroslavl, all significant producers of motor gasoline.

The decline has brought gasoline production back to roughly the level recorded in early July, at the height of the first wave of Russia’s fuel crisis, which began developing in May.

Fuel shortages have returned to Russian regions after briefly easing in late July. Regional authorities have reintroduced restrictions, including limits on how much fuel individual customers can buy and schedules allowing purchases based on vehicle registration plate numbers.

Reuters reported that some drivers have also begun avoiding non-essential trips because of the risk of long lines at filling stations or running out of fuel.

Russia has increasingly turned to imports to compensate for the shortfall. Seaborne deliveries of petroleum products from Asian countries are expected to reach about 270,000 tons in August, while gasoline imports from Belarus are projected at around 150,000 tons.

Traders estimate that about 220,000 tons of imported gasoline have already arrived in Russia this month.

Even with imports supplementing domestic production and gasoline exports banned until Jan. 31, supplies to Russia’s domestic market could average about 97,000 tons per day in August — roughly 85% of estimated demand.

Russia’s Energy Ministry did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.