Russia expands gasoline imports with new shipment from Morocco

Russia has imported a batch of gasoline shipped from Morocco, amid an ongoing fuel deficit.

The delivery was reported by Reuters' fuel market sources.

The new cargo expands the geography of the emergency purchases Moscow undertook after production cuts at Russian oil refineries. Gasoline had previously begun to be delivered to Russia by sea from India, with additional volumes coming from Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The fuel crisis in Russia intensified after a series of Ukrainian strikes on oil processing plants and fuel depots. A number of regions experienced disruptions, long lines at gas stations, and limits on the volume of fuel sales.

According to Reuters' sources, in early July, Russian refineries met about 65% of the average seasonal gasoline consumption. Authorities were redistributing supplies between regions and restricting export of petroleum products, trying to increase supply in the domestic market.

The shipment from Morocco is notable because Russia remains one of the world's largest producers and exporters of crude oil. However, damage to its refining capacity forces it to purchase finished automotive fuel abroad.