Russia imported 30,000 tonnes of gasoline from Morocco as only 8 of its 26 major refineries stay in operation

A Panama flagged tanker is currently discharging gasoline at the port of Murmansk in the Russian Arctic, a 30,000 tonne cargo loaded about two weeks ago at the Moroccan port of Tangier. The report was published on Friday 31 July 2026 by Mehr News Agency, citing Iran's oil ministry.

According to the same report, only 8 of Russia's 26 major gasoline and diesel producing refineries have been operating since the start of the year. The Financial Times reported on Thursday 30 July that roughly half of Russia's refining capacity has been lost.

Moscow had earlier banned gasoline exports for six months and is now importing fuel by rail from Belarus and Kazakhstan in addition to seaborne cargoes. A product bottleneck in one of the world's largest oil exporters affects the global balance for refined products, a variable that feeds through to crude pricing and refining margins.