Oil Flows Hit Snags in Russia After Port Attacks

Russia’s main Baltic Sea ports, Ust-Luga and Primorsk, have been out of action for two weeks straight because of drone strikes that damaged key infrastructure. These ports normally handle most of Russia’s oil exports, but now refineries are scrambling to find backup routes. The attacks, which hit Ust-Luga at least five times in just 10 days during late March, have forced refineries to reroute shipments or risk losing production. Since March 22, diesel exports from Primorsk have been blocked, leaving refineries in European Russia and Siberia with no easy way to move their fuel. One industry worker confirmed the shutdown, saying deliveries haven’t been accepted for days and no clear restart date has been given. Without this route, refineries are turning to rail transport, which costs more and adds delays.Some refineries have tried sending fuel oil to smaller ports like Vysotsk, but it can’t handle the same volume. Others are sending shipments to Taman on the Black Sea, but that requires extra rail cars, making it a slower and pricier option. Finnish officials reported that Primorsk and Ust-Luga are now seeing barely any traffic—just a handful of ships instead of the usual 40 to 50 per week. The ripple effects could be big. If exports stay disrupted, Russia might have to cut back on oil production, which could tighten global fuel supplies. Refineries are under pressure to adapt fast, but the attacks have left them with few good choices.