Bloomberg: Kazakhstan oil exports via CPC pipeline drop sharply in January

Kazakhstan’s oil exports through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) fell sharply in January 2026, with shipments down roughly 45% from planned levels. 

Traders estimate CPC Blend exports at about 800,000–900,000 barrels per day, Bloomberg reports.

Of 45 scheduled shipments, at least 21 were cancelled due to storms, extended maintenance, and infrastructure damage from drone attacks.

The supply shortfall has pushed prices higher, with Kazakh oil trading at a premium of around $1.20 per barrel to Dated Brent for the first time in a year.

The CPC pipeline, operated by major energy companies from Russia, the US, Kazakhstan, and several Western European countries, transports oil from Kazakhstan’s Tengiz, Kashagan, and Karachaganak fields. It serves as the country’s main export route, moving at least 60 million tons of oil annually.

Bloomberg notes that operational difficulties largely stem from the CPC’s marine terminal, which requires at least two offshore loading units to function simultaneously for stable throughput.

Around 90% of CPC shipments usually come from Kazakhstan. Russian supplies typically contribute about 150,000 barrels per day, but these volumes have fallen sharply following drone attacks on Lukoil facilities in the Caspian Sea.

By Jeyhun Aghazada