Russia set to import jet fuel via Asia amid supply shortage

Russia is preparing to import a cargo of jet fuel originating from Japan via intermediaries, according to three sources familiar with the matter, as the country grapples with a fuel shortage following Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure.

At least 200,000 barrels of jet fuel are expected to be loaded in the first half of July at Chiba, Japan, and initially shipped to South Korea, two of the sources told Reuters. The transaction involves multiple traders operating along the supply chain.

The cargo is then likely to be transferred to another tanker — probably through a ship-to-ship operation off the port of Yeosu — before being transported onward to Russia. The final destination within Russia was not immediately clear.

The sources declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak publicly.

Russia’s Energy Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. South Korea’s Industry Ministry declined to comment, while Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry did not immediately respond.

Ship-tracking data from Kpler shows that a previous such shipment to Russia involved around 22,000 barrels of jet fuel loaded from Yeosu in February 2022, which was delivered to the Far Eastern port of Vladivostok.

The current supply crunch follows a wave of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian oil refineries and storage facilities, disrupting domestic fuel availability. The shortages have begun to affect daily life, prompting authorities in Moscow to impose restrictions on fuel purchases, while farmers have warned that limited supplies could hinder the harvest.

According to Kpler data, Russia’s jet fuel exports have dropped to around 13,000 barrels per day this year, primarily to Türkiye, compared with about 30,000 bpd last year.

By Tamilla Hasanova