EU Imports Russian Oil via Third Countries, Bypassing Sanctions

The European Union has seen a significant increase in imports of petroleum products derived from Russian crude oil, despite existing sanctions and price cap mechanisms. According to data from the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), EU ports received 18 large shipments of fuel in July, compared to eight shipments in June. The logistics chain relies on third-party hubs, such as Turkey, India, and Georgia, which process Russian crude and resell the finished fuel to European consumers.

The majority of processed fuel enters the EU via Turkey, with smaller contributions from India and Georgia. This re-export mechanism allows Russian energy to bypass the embargo by changing its legal status through refining.

Financial analysts suggest that the use of intermediaries increases costs for European businesses and consumers due to extended logistics chains and intermediary margins.