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A “traffic jam” of at least 20 oil tankers loaded with Russian crude has formed off the coasts of India and China, according to Bloomberg, UATV English informs.
Despite Russia’s crude oil exports reaching their highest level in more than two and a half years, delays in unloading have led to a growing volume of oil being stored at sea, as tankers remain anchored near Indian and Chinese ports.
Bloomberg reports that since late August 2025, the volume of Russian oil held at sea has increased by 48%, while delivery remains problematic.
“At least 20 tankers carrying Russian crude are waiting for permission to dock at ports in China and India, while others have taken months to deliver their cargo,” Bloomberg notes.
Key figures:
- ~3.87 million barrels per day shipped by Russia in the four weeks up to December 21
- +200,000 barrels per day compared to the previous four-week period
- Growth driven by resumed shipments from the Baltic port of Primorsk
A sharp decline in refinery output inside Russia has likely freed up more crude for export. Refinery operations remain below seasonal averages due to Ukrainian drone strikes, including damage to the Yaroslavl refinery north of Moscow, which has a capacity of around 300,000 barrels per day, making it one of Russia’s ten largest fuel producers.
The buildup of Russian crude at sea also coincides with tighter U.S. measures against tankers linked to Venezuelan oil, which President Donald Trump has accused of transporting sanctioned crude. These actions may be raising concerns among Russian oil shippers and buyers that their cargoes could also become targets.
While U.S. sanctions have not stopped Russian oil flows, they have made logistics more difficult. As a result, India may receive fewer barrels of Russian oil next month, Bloomberg suggests.
As previously reported, Russia has built a “shadow fleet” of more than 1,240 tankers since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine to bypass Western sanctions. Some of these vessels have been accused of dumping oil in European waters, increasing the risk of major environmental disasters.
