Russia September crude exports rise 8% on month, despite fresh sanctions
Russia exported 4.088 million barrels/day of seaborne crude in September, up 8% month over month and up 3% year over year, according to S&P Global Energy ship tracking data. Exports to India fell 59% month over month to 816,000 b/d while exports to China rose 22% month over month to 1.415 million b/d, and shipments to unknown destinations rose to 709,000 b/d from 24,000 b/d in August. US President Donald Trump signed legislation on Sept. 18 allowing tariffs of up to 100% on goods imported from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas by volume.
Why it matters: The shift in Russian crude flows away from India and toward China and unidentified destinations indicates that sanctions are redirecting trade routes rather than reducing export volumes.