The number of ships departing Russian ports has dropped 35% compared with pre-Ukraine invasion levels, reports Lloyd’s List.
Tracking the numbers
In the three-week period ending February 24 — the day the invasion started — 885 vessels departed Russian ports, data shows. That compares with 579 departures over the three weeks ending March 16.
Numbers tracked are for internationally trading ships over 10,000 dwt.
Shunning Russian ports
Shipowners, oil traders and agribusinesses are shunning Russian ports as the UK and the US ban oil and gas from Russia, and self-sanctioning further curbs exports of energy commodities, grains and fertilisers, pushing prices to records and stoking inflation.
Consequences
Grain and coal exports are most affected with 21 outbound bulk carrier sailings for the seven-day period ending March 16, down 72% compared with 75 bulk carriers departing the week before the invasion.
The greatest drop in sailings that week was at the eastern Russian coal port of Vostochnyy.
Eight vessels sailed during that period, compared with 18 for the pre-invasion week. Data suggests that receivers in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, the main destinations for bulk carriers tracked leaving the port, have scaled back purchases.
The number of China-bound bulk carriers has also halved post-invasion, to 12 sailings.
About a third of vessels that sailed from Russian ports with international destinations last year were bulk carriers.
South Korea’s influence
South Korea remains a key trading partner and is the top destination for outbound vessels sailing from Russia, post-invasion. This is followed by Netherlands, Turkey and Finland.
Of the 579 vessels that departed Russian ports, 77 sailed to South Korea, including 30 containerships. Another 22 were bulk carriers, six were crude oil tankers and two were liquefied natural gas carriers.
Oil products
Russian crude, oil and oil products exports continue although departure numbers are falling.
Data tracked 49 crude and product tankers sailing from Russia ports in the week ending March 16. That compares with 111 for the pre-invasion week.
The Netherlands remains the top destination for Russian exports of seaborne crude and oil products shipped over the week ending March 16. A further 12 shipments discharged in Germany, Poland and Estonia. Five went to Turkey and five to China.
Pre-invasion, seven cargoes on crude and product tankers that sailed from Russian export ports were destined for the Netherlands and Rotterdam, where key European refiners are based.
Overall, crude and product tanker departures are 56% lower over the comparable periods, showing the impact that self-sanctioning, and UK port bans on Russia-linked ships is having on crude, fuel oil and middle distillate and gasoline trades.
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Source: LIoyd’s List
