Russian oil is being "packed" in a big way

Russian oil suppliers are increasingly switching to larger tankers. With sanctions pressure and restrictions imposed on hundreds of tankers, the delivery of raw materials is simplified. At the same time, tanker freight rates are rising.

"Over the last week of September, freight rates for the transportation of Russian oil by Suezmax—class vessels increased by more than 10%," Kommersant reports, citing a review by the Center for Price Indices (CIC).

So, freight to Northern China by Suezmax tankers increased by 13.6% over the week, to $ 10.2 per barrel, and this became a record in 2025. Transportation to Western India has risen in price by 10.3%, to $7.7 per barrel — the maximum rate from 2024.

The CCI noted that the transfer of Russian oil to larger tankers is partly due to the direction of large volumes of raw materials for export to the ports of the Azov-Black Sea basin.

At the same time, according to analysts, market participants are trying to increase the volume of export shipments to minimize risks. Traditionally, oil from Russia is transported by Aframax-class vessels (up to 120 thousand tons), and Suezmax allows increasing the volume of one batch to 160 thousand tons.

Roman Sokolov, director of the Central Information Center, told Kommersant that against the background of geopolitical pressure, the redistribution of export flows in different directions became a logical reaction. At the same time, BCS senior analyst Kirill Bakhtin noted that the reduction in supplies through the northwestern ports may be associated with risks on routes through the Danish Straits.

As EADaily reported, the EU plans to impose new sanctions on oil tankers transporting raw materials from Russia, and the number of vessels under restrictions will reach almost seven hundred. Sanctions do not stop deliveries, but increase transportation costs.