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☆ Danish military says it staying close to Chinese ship after data cable breaches
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Danish military said Wednesday that it was staying close to a Chinese ship currently sitting idle in Danish waters, days after two fiber-optic data telecommunication cables in the Baltic Sea were severed. Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 was anchored in the Kattegat strait between Denmark and Sweden on Wednesday, with a Danish navy patrol ship at anchor nearby, MarineTraffic vessel tracking data showed. “The Danish Defense can confirm that we are present in the area near the Chinese ship Yi Peng 3,” the military said in a post on social media X, adding it had no further comments. It is quite rare for Denmark’s military to comment publicly on individual vessels travelling in Danish waters. It did not mention the cable breaches or say why it was staying with the ship.

Persons: Yi Peng, “, Carl, Oskar Bohlin, Dmitry Peskov, ” Organizations: Danish Defense, Swedish Civil Defense, Reuters, coastguard Locations: Danish, Baltic, Denmark, Sweden, Russian, Ust, Luga, Lithuania, Finland, Germany, Swedish, Russia

☆ Accident or sabotage? American and European officials disagree as key undersea cables are cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Investigators are trying to crack the mystery of how two undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea were cut within hours of each other, with European officials saying they believe the disruption was an act of sabotage and US officials suggesting it was likely an accident. The two cables – the BCS East-West connecting Lithuanian and Sweden and the C-Lion1 linking Finland with Germany – were suddenly disrupted on Sunday and Monday. And the disruption to the cables came just weeks after the US warned that Moscow was likely to target critical undersea infrastructure. Instead, the two officials told CNN they believed it likely caused by an anchor drag from a passing vessel. The Chinese-flagged ship Yi Peng 3 was spotted in the area around the times the two cables were cut.

Persons: Germany –, Boris Pistorius, “, ”, Yi Peng, Lin Jian, China “ Organizations: CNN —, BCS, Germany’s, Europe, CNN, Wednesday, Swedish, Administration, Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, Danish Armed Forces Locations: Baltic, Lithuanian, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Russia, Moscow, particuar, Ust, Luga, Yi, China

☆ Russian oil exports drop to lowest in 7 months amid OPEC cuts and sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Kelly Cloonan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Oil exports from Russia dropped to their lowest level in seven months. Crude oil exports peaked in April and have fallen 620,000 barrels a day since. AdvertisementRussian oil exports have dropped to the lowest levels since December. The drop in exports of Russian crude oil also comes amid recent sanctions from Ukraine against Russian oil supplier Lukoil, which has diverted some oil flows to European countries like Hungary and Slovakia. Those sanctions are driving refiners in some countries, like those in India, to refuse deliveries of Russian oil.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Pipes Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Lukoil Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Primorsk, Ust, OPEC, Hungary, Slovakia, India

☆ Ukraine drones attack multiple oil refineries in the campaign against Russia's strategic energy industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine attacked another Russian oil refinery on Saturday night. AdvertisementA long week of attacks on oil and gas infrastructureThis past week, Ukraine has made a concerted effort to degrade Russia's oil production capabilities. The governor of Russia's Samara Oblast reported on March 16 that Ukrainian drones had attacked two Rosneft oil refineries. One attack had hit another major oil refinery operated by Lukoil in the southwestern Volgograd region. Similar incidents had occurred across Russia in January, hitting the Slavneft-Yanos oil refinery, an oil refinery in Tuapse, a storage facility in Klintsy, and a Baltic sea Ust-Luga terminal.

Persons: —, Ukrainska, Russia's, Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelensky, Краснодарському кра РосВдео Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Business, Astra, Ukrainska Pravda, Security Services, Security Service, Stringer, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Reuters, Staff, Lukoil, НПЗ Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Krasnodar, Moscow, Russia, Russia's Samara Oblast, Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Leningrad, Lukoil's Norsi, Russia's Belgorod, Norsi, Ukrainian, Volgograd, Tuapse, Klintsy, Baltic

☆ Ukraine appears to be attacking Russia's oil and gas industry with small, cheap drones that can bypass its air defenses
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Several oil and gas facilities in Russia have caught fire in recent weeks following suspected drone attacks. Russia's air defense systems have proven to be less effective against small drones. AdvertisementUkraine appears to be targeting Russia's oil and gas industry with small, cheap drones as it seeks to disrupt Russian supply lines. Ukraine is likely targeting the facilities in an attempt to disrupt Russia's military operations. AdvertisementWhy Ukraine is able to embarrass Russia's air defense systemsRussia's air defense systems have proven to be less effective against small drones as they struggle to detect them.

Persons: —, Lapenko, Vladimir Putin's, Vladimir Putin, Samuel Bendett Organizations: Service, New York Times, Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, Getty, RBC, Center for Naval Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Tuapse, Klintsy, Ukrainian, Moscow, Baltic Ust, St, Petersburg, Lake Valdai, Valdai

☆ Ukraine is exploiting gaps in Russia's air defenses, which were designed for a different kind of war
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Analysts said Ukraine appeared to be exploiting gaps in Russian air defenses. Russia's air defenses are focused on potential attacks from NATO in the west, not the south. AdvertisementUkraine is exploiting gaps in Russia's air defenses, which were designed for a different kind of war, according to a report. The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, said that Russian air defenses in Leningrad Oblast, near St Petersburg, appeared to be poor. AdvertisementThe ISW said the attacks were stretching Russia's air defenses.

Persons: —, Russia's Organizations: Analysts, NATO, Service, Ukrainian, Reuters, Business Locations: Ukraine, US, Leningrad Oblast, St Petersburg, West, Ust, Tula, Moscow, Russia, Klintsy, Ukrainian, Crimea

☆ Fire erupts at Russia's Novatek Baltic Sea terminal after explosions heard
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2022/06/15: Novatek Logo seen on the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2022 (SPIEF 2022). (Photo by Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)A fire broke out at a Baltic Sea terminal belonging to Novatek, Russia's largest liquefied natural gas producer, regional officials said on Sunday, amid reports of explosions and Ukrainian drone sightings in the area. "There were no casualties as a result of the fire at the Novatek terminal in the port of Ust-Luga. St. Petersburg-based news outlet Fontanka said at least two drones were spotted in the sky flying towards St. Petersburg before the terminal caught fire. That came a day after an attack on a Russian Baltic Sea oil terminal that Russian officials said was unsuccessful.

Persons: Maksim Konstantinov, Alexander Drozdenko, Drozdenko, Fontanka, Novatek Organizations: St ., Economic, Getty, Leningrad region's, Moscow, Kyiv Locations: SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, St, St . Petersburg, Novatek, Finland, Ust, Leningrad, Petersburg, Russia, Ukraine, Russia's, Bryansk, Baltic, Russian

☆ Russia's dark fleet of ships kept its oil exports strong. But 2 recent incidents in the Red Sea highlight the risks of that strategy.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

However, a recent incident in the Red Sea highlights some of the risks faced by dark fleet ships, which typically have opaque ownership and frequently change their vessel names and flag registrations. The vessel was carrying Russian oil loaded at the port of Ust-Luga. "This was the second tanker mistakenly targeted by the Houthis whilst carrying Russian oil," Ambrey added. The Houthis have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea since November in retaliation for Israel's bombings in Gaza. AdvertisementThe Houthi's attacks in the Red Sea are upending global shipping with major shipping lines, including Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, changing up their shipping routes to avoid risk.

Persons: —, It's, Ambrey, Lloyd, Matthew Loh Organizations: Service, Business, Panama, Union Maritime, Maersk, Hapag Locations: Russia, Iran, Yemen, Ust, Red, Gaza

☆ Exclusive: Greek shippers exit Russian oil trade as U.S. tightens price cap scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Tatiana Meel/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW/LONDON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Three major Greek shipping firms have stopped transporting Russian oil in recent weeks in order to avoid U.S. sanctions now being imposed on some shipping firms carrying Russian oil, four traders told Reuters and shipping data showed. Greek shippers Minerva Marine, Thenamaris and TMS Tankers have stopped transporting Russia oil in recent weeks, the four traders said. The Greek shippers' exit from the trade followed tighter U.S. sanctions imposed on Russian oil shipments. The G7 countries introduced a price cap on Russian oil in late 2022, but had not previously enforced it. Russian oil trade has brought record revenues over the past year to the shippers who took the risk and stayed in the business.

Persons: Tatiana Meel, Thenamaris, Minerva, Jonathan Saul, Dmitry Zhdannikov, Eleftherios Papadimas, Susan Fenton Organizations: Nord, REUTERS, Minerva, TMS, Minerva Marine, Reuters, United Arab Emirates, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Nakhodka Bay, Nakhodka, Russia, LONDON, Asia, Turkey, East, Africa, South America, Moscow, Washington, OPEC, U.S, Baltic, India, Primorsk, Ust, Iran, Europe, UAE, Hong Kong, Seychelles, Ghana, Liberia, Cook, London, Athens

☆ Russia's 'ghost ships' could be targeted at a sea choke point in a bid to enforce the West's oil price cap
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has been using so-called "ghost ships" to skirt the West's oil price cap. Russia sends millions of barrels of crude oil through a choke point at the Danish straits, per the outlet. AdvertisementRussian oil tankers could face a crackdown at a key choke point, according to the Financial Times. But Denmark could struggle to stop the ghost ships because of constraints on its own navy, according to maritime experts. Blocking commercial traffic in the Danish straits would come close to a declaration of war," Hans Peter Michaelsen, an independent defense analyst, told Reuters.

Persons: —, Hans Peter Michaelsen Organizations: EU, Financial Times, Service, European Union, KSE, Bloomberg, FT, UN, Reuters Locations: Russia, Denmark, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, EU, Danish

☆ Russia's Urals oil from Baltic ports falls below $60 cap amid sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Russia's Urals oil prices on Friday fell below the Western price cap level of $60 per barrel amid a rise in freight rates fuelled by fresh U.S. sanctions on shipowners and weaker global oil prices, two traders said and Reuters calculations showed. Russia's main export grade had been trading above $60 since mid-July amid output cuts by OPEC+ producers including Saudi Arabia and Russia. On Friday freight rates for Urals oil shipments from Russia's Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga to India rose to $9.2-9.5 million per tanker per voyage from $8 million last week. Urals oil prices on a delivered ex-ship basis in Indian ports were stable at a discount of around $5 per barrel to dated Brent, traders said. High transportations costs weighed on FOB prices for Russian Urals oil, traders said, adding that amid weakness in Brent the grade's price was below $60 as of Friday.

Persons: Brent, Jason Neely Organizations: U.S . Treasury Department, United, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, U.S, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Primorsk, Ust, Luga, India, Brent

☆ Russia's western sea port oil exports seen falling as refinery runs rise -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Russia has pledged to preserve an oil export cut of 300,000 bpd until the end of the year. Most recently Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that cut includes both oil and oil products. Russia banned oil product exports in the end of September resulting in higher oil exports in October. Still, the November refinery throughput plan could be adjusted, traders said, depending on the length of the oil product export ban and on domestic fuel prices. "Fundamentally we expect a decline in November Urals exports, though the oil product ban was something no one expected, so it is difficult to predict exports given such sudden government decisions," a source in Russian oil market said.

Persons: Alexey Malgavko, Alexander Novak, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Siberian, Omsk, Russia, Primorsk, Ust

☆ Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank block Gazprom subsidiary's Russian lawsuits
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The Deutsche Bank app logo is seen on a smartphone in this picture illustration taken September 15, 2017. RusKhimAlyans, which is 50% owned by Gazprom, filed lawsuits in Russia seeking more than 22 billion roubles ($22 million) from Deutsche Bank and over 8 billion roubles from Commerzbank over unpaid bank guarantees. Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank both said they were unable to pay RusKhimAlyans due to European Union sanctions. Deutsche Bank and RusKhimAlyans declined to comment. RusKhimAlyans had signed a deal with Linde in 2021 for the construction of the gas plant, with Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and UniCredit providing guarantees.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, RusKhimAlyans –, RusKhimAlyans, Commerzbank, UniCredit, UCCDB.UL, Linde, Sam Tobin, Sinead Cruise, Vladimir Soldatkin, Mark Potter Organizations: Deutsche Bank, REUTERS, Gazprom, Linde, High, RIC, RusKhimAlyans, Commerzbank, Thomson Locations: London, Russia, Baltic, Ust, Luga, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ Exclusive: Poland charters tankers used for Russian oil to import Arab crude
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Many oil majors have avoided contracting tankers that have carried Russian crude because of the risk of sanctions and self-imposed restrictions. Under the price cap, western companies can ship and provide insurance for Russian oil and products provided they are sold at less than $60 per barrel. "Dead freight is one of the issues when working with Russian oil as not all companies agree to use ships involved in Urals deliveries," the trader said. Orlen said it was not involved in any Russian oil shipping and it screened all vessels it uses to ensure no Russian sanctions are violated. Russian oil has been mostly shipped to Asia following the EU embargo.

Persons: Orlen, Russia's Zarubezhneft, Sidi Kerir, Nissos Delos, Marek Strzelecki, Maha El, Barbara Lewis Organizations: MOSCOW, Group, European Union, Botafogo, TMS, Kyklades, Saudi Aramco, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Asia, Lithuania, Poland, Russian, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, ASIA, Poland's Gdansk, Lithuania's, Russian Baltic, Baltic, Primorsk, Mundra, West India, Saudi, Sidi, Gdansk, Waikiki, Bonita, Nissos, Calida, Butinge, Russia's, Ust, India, Warsaw, Maha, Maha El Dahan, Dubai

☆ Gazprom subsidiary files $472-million lawsuit against UniCredit in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Unicredit Bank logo is seen in this illustration taken March 12, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoMOSCOW, Aug 7 (Reuters) - RusKhimAlyans, 50%-owned by Russian gas giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM), has filed a lawsuit seeking 45.7 billion roubles ($472 million) from Italy's UniCredit [RIC:RIC:UCCDB.UL], a guarantor of a project held up by EU sanctions, Russian court documents show. The court documents were filed at the Court of Arbitration of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. In January, the same court ordered nearly $500 million of assets belonging to Linde , to be frozen at RusKhimAlyans's request. ($1 = 96.8150 roubles)Reporting by Elena Fabrichnaya; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Kevin LiffeyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Linde, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Kevin Liffey Organizations: REUTERS, Gazprom, Deutsche Bank, Linde, Industries, Ust, Thomson Locations: Petersburg, Leningrad Region, Baltic, Ust, Russia, Ukraine

There is no suggestion the trades break sanctions, although they may make it difficult for sanctions enforcement agencies in Europe and the United States to track Russian oil transactions and prices. The new trading network and practices raise financial risks for Russian oil companies dealing with unknown entities with limited credit history. "We recognise that (sanctions on Russia are) going to change the shape and structure of the Russian oil markets," the official told reporters. In May, Russian seaborne oil supplies to India, which was a rare buyer of Russian oil before the war, reached a record of 1.95 million bpd while China imported 2.29 million bpd. A source with one major Russian oil company said his company was prepared to deal with higher credit risks from buyers for the sake of having stable and rising oil exports.

Persons: Russia's, Rosneft, Everest, Coral, Washington, Lukoil, Dmitry Zhdannikov, Nidhi Verma, Timothy Gardner, Laura Sanicola, Simon Webb, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: NEW, Liberian, Reuters, Shell, Group, European Union, Bellatrix Energy, Leopard, Guron, SEA, Coral Energy, Everest Energy, U.S . Treasury, EU, UK, Treasury, UAE dirham, Shipping, Hindustan Petroleum, Gazprom Neft, Covart Energy, Orion Energy, Media, Rosneft, Nidhi, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, NEW DELHI, Russia's Ust, Hong Kong, India, Moscow, Asia, Ukraine, Refinitiv, Europe, United States, Australia, China, U.S, UAE, Dubai, Visakhapatnam, Surgutneftegaz, Russian, Geneva, Singapore, Rosneft, Venezuela, MOSCOW, LONDON, Washington, New York

☆ Exclusive: Russia sets plans for oil export cuts in August - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Moscow this month pledged to cut exports by 500,000 bpd in August, while Saudi Arabia extended its 1 million bpd output cuts. Russia exports oil and products via the Pacific and a direct pipeline to China as well as its European ports. Three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Russia had instructed oil companies to reduce supply plans for the next month. Russian offline primary oil refining capacity is seen rising by 40% in August from July, making additional oil export cuts next month even tougher for many. If Russia wants to cut oil exports in August from July, companies may postpone some planned works to autumn months to increase domestic oil consumption, or cut oil production, traders said.

Persons: Alexander Novak, Novak, Igor Sechin, Rosneft, Jan Harvey Organizations: Pacific, Reuters, OPEC, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, MOSCOW, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Ust, Luga, Baltic, China

☆ Russia's crude price exceeds G7 price cap as market braces for supply crunch
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Spot prices of Russia's crude oil this week surpassed the $60-per-barrel threshold of the Group of Seven's oil price cap scheme, as Moscow and Riyadh tighten supplies. The G7 introduced its oil price cap mechanism on Dec. 5 to retain Russian flows in the market while also limiting revenue for the Kremlin's war coffers. Under the G7 scheme, Western shipping and insurance providers can offer services to non-G7 buyers of Russian crude if the crude oil is acquired at a price below $60 per barrel. Spot assessments from commodities pricing agency Argus show that Urals prices on July 12 reached $60.18 and $60.78 per barrel for Primorsk and Novorossiysk-loaded cargoes, respectively. S&P Global Platts meanwhile valued Primorsk cargoes at $60.32 per barrel on July 11 and Novorossiysk Urals crude at $60.26 per barrel on July 12.

Persons: P Global Platts, —, Giovanni Staunovo, they're, David Fyfe Organizations: Argus, P Global, CNBC, Ice Brent, of, Petroleum, International Energy Agency, UBS, P, Commodity Insights Locations: Moscow, Riyadh, Ust, Luga, Novorossiysk, —, Libya, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, Iraq, Lower U.S

☆ Gazprom subsidiary files lawsuits against Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, July 4 (Reuters) - RusKhimAlyans, a subsidiary of Russian gas giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM), has filed lawsuits seeking a total of 31 billion roubles ($348 million) from Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) and Commerzbank (CBKG.DE), Russian court documents show. RusKhimAlyans, in which Gazprom has a 50% stake, is seeking more than 22 billion roubles from Deutsche Bank and over 8 billion roubles from Commerzbank, according to the documents filed at the Court of Arbitration of St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. In 2021, Linde and Renaissance Heavy Industries signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Gazprom and its partners for the Ust-Luga gas complex. Linde notified the customer in May and June 2022 that it had suspended work under the contract due to European Union sanctions imposed after Russia sent thousands of its troops into neighbouring Ukraine. ($1 = 89.0585 roubles)Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by David Goodman and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Linde, Vladimir Soldatkin, David Goodman, Emelia Organizations: Gazprom, Deutsche Bank, Linde, Renaissance Heavy Industries, Ust, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Commerzbank, Petersburg, Leningrad Region, Baltic, Ust, Luga, Russia, Ukraine

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) fell 5 cents or 0.1% to $69.81. While it would be Brent's first monthly gain for 2023, it would mark a second for WTI after a gain in April. Despite the probable monthly gain, on a quarterly basis, Brent looks set for a loss of about 6% while WTI appears headed for a decline of about 7%. The oil price gains on Friday were, however, capped by weak Chinese economic data and fears of higher interest rates. U.S. oil rig count data, an indicator of future supply, will be released later in the day.

Persons: Brent, WTI, Yeap, Rong, Novorossiisk, Robert Carnell, Jerome Powell, Arathy Somasekhar, Muyu Xu, Edwina Gibbs, Robert Birsel Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, U.S . Energy Information Administration, IG, ING, Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: U.S, Saudi Arabia, That's, OPEC, Primorsk, Ust, Houston, Singapore

☆ Oil exports from Russia's western ports hit 4-yr high in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Russian crude exports and transit from the ports of Primorsk, Ust-Luga and Novorossiisk in April will rise above 10 million tonnes, up from 9.7 million tonnes in March, which is a day longer. It was unclear if Russia's high exports mean it has lowered its output cuts. Seasonal maintenance on Russian refineries in April could explain the high crude exports as the state's domestic market needs less oil, the sources added. Urals crude exports from Primorsk in April will reach some 4.4 million tonnes, while Ust-Luga will load 3.0 million tonnes of Russia's Urals and Kazakstan's KEBCO crude oil grades, the three sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Russia's Urals oil keeps flowing to Asia in April, while softer freight rates help the grade's sellers to reach far-away costumers, accoding to Reuters souces.

☆ Energy trader Gunvor posts record $2.36 bln net profit in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Ahmad Ghaddar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Gunvor Group Ltd FollowLONDON, April 5 (Reuters) - Gunvor Group posted a record net profit of $2.36 billion in 2022 with a strong performance across all trading desks, the energy trader said in a statement on Wednesday. Gunvor's rivals also had a bumper year amid high price volatility and as Russia's war in Ukraine reshaped global commodity flows, with Vitol and Mercuria previously posting record net profits of $15 billion and $2.98 billion, respectively. Gunvor said its trading volumes fell to 165 million tonnes in 2022 from 240 million tonnes the previous year, due primarily to reduced trading in natural gas, but expected volumes to rebound in the coming year. "The performance was broad-based across all geographies and all desks, including refining and shipping," Gunvor said. Last month, CEO Torbjorn Tornqvist told Reuters that it was considering whether to book a provision in the 2022 year.

☆ Russia's Sibur exports LPG to Africa, Middle East and Asia as EU cuts buying
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW, April 5 (Reuters) - Sibur, the largest producer and exporter of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Russia, redirected exports to Africa, the Middle East and Asia in the past three months, industry sources said. In the first quarter of last year, countries outside EU and UK accounted for only 18%, or 43,000 tonnes, of LPG shipped from Ust-Luga. Redirecting quite a few of Sibur's LPG cargoes from the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) trading hub outside Europe has significantly increased the round trip for gas carriers, ship-tracking data shows. To avoid higher freight costs Sibur and trader Trafigura have engaged larger vessels to ship LPG outside the EU, three LPG traders told Reuters. Sibur LPG cargoes arriving from Ust-Luga are being sold to Trafigura, which reloads them at Paldiski to MGC (medium gas carriers, about 22,000 tonnes) or LGC (large gas carriers, 44,000 tonnes) vessels, the LPG traders said.

☆ Exclusive: Russia shifts to Dubai benchmark in Indian oil deal - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Nidhi Verma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationNEW DELHI, April 3 (Reuters) - Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft (ROSN.MM) and India's top refiner Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS) agreed to use the Asia-focused Dubai oil price benchmark in their latest deal to deliver Russian oil to India, three sources familiar with the deal said. Rosneft's chief executive Igor Sechin said in February that the price of Russian oil would be determined outside of Europe as Asia has emerged as largest buyer of Russian oil since the West imposed progressively tighter sanctions on the export. Under the new deal, announced on March 29, Rosneft will nearly double oil sales to Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS), two of the sources told Reuters. The European Union nations stopped buying Russian oil from Dec. 5 and the Group of Seven (G7) countries joined the EU in imposing a price cap on Russian crude of $60 per barrel. The move was aimed at cutting Russia's oil revenue while maintaining stability on the global oil market.

☆ Factbox: The battle over Russia's crude and oil products
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MOSCOW, March 15 (Reuters) - In attempt to curb Russia's oil revenues, Western countries imposed sweeping sanctions against Russian crude oil and oil products. Below are the sanctions so far imposed, their impact and Russia's response:CRUDE OIL- The G7, the European Union and Australia stopped buying all Russian crude oil delivered by sea - or 2/3 of all EU imports of Russian crude - from Dec. 5. - Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree banning the supply of crude oil and oil products from Feb. 1 to nations that abide by the cap. - Russia's crude oil loadings from its Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga and the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk were some 10% below the target for February. - In February the EU released from sanctions oil products which are produced from Russian oil outside the country and canceled the price cap for those oil products which are mixed with those from other countries.

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