Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter, has introduced additional limitations on its Black Sea oil shipments, suspending a mooring at the port of Novorossiisk just a day after curbing loadings from a crucial Caspian pipeline.
Producing approximately 9 million barrels per day—nearly a tenth of global output—Russia's ports also facilitate oil exports from Kazakhstan.
The move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump voiced frustration with Russia and the slow pace of peace negotiations with Ukraine, warning of potential secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian crude.
State-controlled pipeline operator Transneft announced a 90-day suspension of one of Novorossiisk’s moorings following a surprise inspection by a transport regulator.
While Novorossiisk is one of Russia’s largest oil export hubs, the closure of a single mooring is unlikely to cause major disruptions. Transneft specified that “a temporary ban has been placed on oil loading berth 8,” with necessary corrections mandated by June 30, 2025.
Industry sources indicate that Berth 8 at the Sheskharis terminal mainly serves low-sulfur diesel tankers transporting fuel to Turkey and Georgia, handling vessels with a capacity of up to 10,000 tons. Data from LSEG and industry sources show that the berth processed approximately 100,000 tons of diesel between January and March.
This follows Monday’s closure of two out of three moorings at a nearby Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal, a key export route in which U.S. energy giants Chevron and Exxon Mobil hold stakes. The Kremlin linked these restrictions to ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has accused Russia of intensifying strikes on its energy sector, with President Volodymyr Zelensky reporting drone and artillery attacks on power facilities in Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk, leaving thousands without electricity.
Despite the disruptions, April exports via the CPC pipeline are projected at 1.7 million barrels per day, or about 6.5 million metric tons. CPC buyers are awaiting an updated loading schedule, but both Kazakhstan and Chevron confirmed on Tuesday that pipeline flows remain unaffected.