According to the market sources, major refineries cut their gasoline export shipments in June ahead of summer peak demand to offset possible shortages on the domestic market.
Exports of gasoline were also largely hit by the deadly fire at Rosneft's Achinsk refinery in the middle of June . The plant had been shut down on May 11 for regular maintenance, so Rosneft was forced to buy motor fuel from third parties to compensate for shortages on the regional markets.
According to the industry sources, the Achinsk refinery may resume oil processing next month. Another Rosneft refinery, Kuibyshev, increased oil processing in June to 621,100 tonnes from 108,200 tonnes in the previous month after major planned seasonal maintenance.
Its gas oil and fuel oil exports rose by 563.1 percent and 334.0 percent, respectively, from May.
Ukhta refinery, owned by Lukoil, increased its gas oil and fuel oil exports by 280.6 percent and 47.3 percent, respectively, in June after seasonal maintenance.
Gas oil exports from the Surgutneftegaz-controlled Kirishi refinery in northwest Russia were down by 13.7 percent to 360,000 tonnes in June after a fire in a hydrocracking unit. According to the Energy Ministry, the hydro cracker repair will take until August 5.
YEAR ON YEAR
Compared with a year ago, Russian gasoline exports in June were down by 36.2 percent, while domestic shipments fell by 3.6 percent.
Total gasoline output was down 2.8 percent at 3.185 million tonnes from 3.276 million in the same period last year.
Gasoil exports were up by 15.2 percent while local supplies decreased by 9.5 percent.
Total production of gasoil rose by 6.1 percent to 6.388 million tonnes.
Domestic shipments of fuel oil rose by 173.2 percent, while exports were down by 14.3 percent. Fuel oil output was up 5.2 percent, at 6.537 million tonnes.