Russia imported a record 172,000 tonnes of oil products in August, more than seven times the previous monthly record, as Ukrainian drone strikes disrupted domestic refining capacity, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
India accounted for 70% of Russia’s oil-product imports, supplying around 120,000 tonnes of gasoline worth €78 million, all loaded at the Vadinar refinery operated by Nayara Energy, in which Russia’s Rosneft holds a 49.13% stake. CREA said Vadinar sourced all its crude from Russia during the first eight months of 2026.
Russia’s gasoline imports surged as refinery disruptions caused domestic shortages, while its seaborne oil-product exports fell 21% in August. Crude loadings at Novorossiysk also dropped 58% month-on-month.
India remained Russia’s second-largest fossil-fuel customer, importing €4.8 billion of Russian hydrocarbons in August, including €4.1 billion of crude oil. China remained the largest buyer at €8.4 billion.