Databases
Violations of the embargo on the imports of crude oil from Russia into the EU in February 2023 (database)
28 February 2023
In February 2023, 7 violations of the EU embargo on seaborne imports of Russian crude oil from the Black Sea were recorded. All of them involved the delivery of oil to a transshipment point in the Laconian Gulf off the coast of Greece. 5 such voyages were made by tankers belonging to companies from Greece, 2 shipowners from Denmark and Liberia performed 1 voyage each. A total of 975,520 tons of Russian crude oil were delivered to the transshipment point in the Laconian Gulf in violation of the embargo, compared with 1,274,281 tons in January 2023 and 1,019,247 tons in December 2022.
In February 2023, 46 Tankers exported Kazakh Oil from the Russian Black Sea Port of Novorossiysk (Database)
28 February 2023
In February 2023, a total of 46 tankers exported CPC oil from the Russian port of Novorossiysk, excluding the exports to Bulgaria and Romania. Together they exported a total of about 6.4 million tons of oil, including 4 million tons to the EU and 2.4 million tons to other countries.
200 tankers exported crude oil and petroleum products from Russian Black Sea ports in January 2023: The database
31 January 2023
The Monitoring Group of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies and BlackSeaNews, based on the results of its own monitoring, presents a database of seaborne exports of crude oil and petroleum products from Russian ports on the Black and Azov Seas in January 2023. In total, in January 2023, 200 tankers exported oil and petroleum products from Russian ports (excluding exports to Bulgaria and Romania). They transported a total of about 12.9 million tons of cargo.
Violations of the embargo on the imports of crude oil from Russia into the EU in January 2023 (database)
31 January 2023
In January 2023, 12 violations of the EU embargo on seaborne imports of Russian crude oil from the Black Sea were recorded. All of them involved the delivery of oil to a transshipment point in the Laconian Gulf off the coast of Greece. 6 such voyages were made by tankers belonging to companies from Greece, 2 – by a shipowner from Turkey, 4 voyages were made by tankers belonging to companies from Denmark, UAE, Cyprus and Marshall Islands one per each. A total of 1,274,281 tons of Russian crude oil were delivered to the transshipment point in the Laconian Gulf in violation of the embargo, compared with 1,019,247 tons in December 2022.
In January 2023, 44 Tankers exported Kazakh Oil from the Russian Black Sea Port of Novorossiysk (Database)
31 January 2023
In January 2023, a total of 44 tankers exported CPC oil from the Russian port of Novorossiysk, excluding the exports to Bulgaria and Romania. Together they exported a total of about 5.9 million tons of oil, including 3.2 million tons to the EU and 2.7 million tons to other countries.
The "grain corridor" in the Black Sea in September-December 2022. Important statistics
22 January 2023
The average number of vessels arriving per day at the ports of Odesa as part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is one of the indicators of military risks. In September 2022, it was 5.9 vessels per day; in October – 5.1; in November – 3.3; and in December – 3.2. That is, in November, as a result of Russia’s deliberate actions, the number of vessels receiving permits for voyages to Ukrainian ports almost halved. Blocking the "grain corridor" remains an integral part of Putin's plan for a new stage of the war. That is, in the event of a new Russian offensive, the "grain corridor" may be blocked.
216 tankers exported crude oil and petroleum products from Russian Black Sea ports in December 2022: The database
31 December 2022
The Monitoring Group of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies and BlackSeaNews, based on the results of its own monitoring, presents a database of seaborne exports of crude oil and petroleum products from Russian ports on the Black and Azov Seas in December 2022. In total, in December 2022, 216 tankers exported oil and petroleum products from Russian ports (excluding exports to Bulgaria and Romania). They transported a total of about 14.4 million tons of cargo.
In December 2022, 55 Tankers exported Kazakh Oil from the Russian Black Sea Port of Novorossiysk (Database)
31 December 2022
In December 2022, a total of 55 tankers exported CPC oil from the Russian port of Novorossiysk, excluding the exports to Bulgaria and Romania. Together they exported a total of about 7.4 million tons of oil, including 5.7 million tons to the EU and 1.7 million tons to other countries.
184 tankers exported crude oil and petroleum products from Russian Black Sea ports in November 2022: The database
30 November 2022
In November 2022, 184 tankers exported oil and petroleum products from Russian ports (excluding exports to Bulgaria and Romania). They transported a total of about 10.3 million tons of cargo, including 2.6 million tons of Russian crude oil, 4.6 million tons of Kazakh CPC crude oil, and 3.1 million tons of Russian petroleum products.
In November 2022, 32 Tankers exported Kazakh Oil from the Russian Black Sea Port of Novorossiysk (Database)
30 November 2022
In November 2022, a total of 32 tankers exported CPC oil from the Russian port of Novorossiysk, excluding the exports to Bulgaria and Romania. Together they exported a total of about 4.6 million tons of oil, including 3.1 million tons to the EU and 1.5 million tons to other countries.
Russia’s crude oil exports from the Black Sea in April-October 2022 (2)
08 November 2022
Following the EU decision to introduce sanctions on the maritime export of Russian crude oil starting December 5, 2022 — Council Regulation (EU) 2022/879 of June 3, 2022 — we’ve observed the following trends: retention of the total volume of Russian crude oil Black Sea exports at 3.5 million tons; certain decrease in exports to EU countries; generally unsuccessful attempts of Russia to replace exports to the EU with those to other countries. The much talked about in the media reorientation of the crude oil exports to India and China, in fact, hasn’t materialized. A month before the introduction of sanctions, Russia has been able to compensate for only up to 4% of its crude oil exports to EU countries.
The April-October 2022 Exports of Crude Oil and Petroleum Products from Russian’s Black and Azov Seas Ports: General Trends and Database (1)
08 November 2022
After a significant May 2022 surge of 13.9 million tons per month, the total volume of Russian sea exports of crude oil and petroleum products from the Black and Azov sea ports, has been showing a steady downward trend to 10.7 million tons in October 2022. In view of the situation, Russia has been making consistent attempts to reorient its crude oil export flows from the EU+ states to other countries of the world. However, considering those a success would be premature. The introduction of the European embargo on the import of oil on oil mixtures may lead to Russian Black Sea crude oil exports crashing by half.
The “grain corridor”: Russia has artificially increased the waiting time for the inspection of ships carrying Ukrainian grain in the Sea of Marmara
01 November 2022
Since 18 September 2022, the waiting time for the “grain fleet” vessels to be inspected by the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in the Sea of Marmara has increased by 5 times and reached 11.3 days per vessel. Such a situation is totally disadvantageous for 3 out of 4 participants of the "grain initiative" - the UN, Turkey, and Ukraine. Our main assumption is that Russia is once again using this situation in connection with other issues - for example, the ceasefire on the front line, which is located at a distance of 40-60 km from the grain corridor area.
«Russian Сivilization» vs «Western Racism». Why Russia is Updating and Globalizing its Propaganda
21 October 2022
In recent weeks, the rhetoric of Russian top politicians has become notably peppered with the expressions «Russian civilization» and «Western racism». While the process has been obviously accelerated by the autumn defeats of the Russian Army in Ukraine, the expressions themselves have obtained new colors and interpretations. According to our monitoring, the term «Russian civilization» is being personally pushed by top officials in the Kremlin and Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Russian rhetoric, the term «Russian civilization» is promoted simultaneously with «racism» when referring to the actions of the West against Russia in general and Russians in particular.
September 2022 Database of Russian Oil and Diesel Fuel Carriers From the Black and Azov Seas
17 October 2022
The EU has ruled to introduce an embargo on Russian oil imported by sea starting December 5, 2022, and oil products – starting February 5, 2023. Meanwhile, in September 2022, 183 tankers of shipowners from 23 countries transported Russian and Caspian Kazakh-Russian crude oil and petroleum products from the Black and Azov Sea ports. Of those, 95 (52%) belong to shipowners from the EU and other western states. After the embargo kicks in, shipowners from those countries should be ready to find a new job for their 95 tankers. This mainly applies to Greek shipowners, whose share in that tanker fleet is 80% (76 tankers).