---
title: "Second Wave of Fuel Collapse: Russia Urgently Buys Expensive Gasoline and Jet Fuel in Asia"
description: "In August, Russia is increasing imports of gasoline and jet fuel from Asia to 270,000 tons against the backdrop of a second wave of fuel shortages after strikes on refineries. Imported fuel is 40% more expensive than domestic fuel and is driving up retail prices."
date: 2026-08-20T10:52:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/second-wave-fuel-collapse-russia-imports-expensive-gasoline-jet-fuel-asia
tags: [russia, fuel-crisis, gasoline-imports, aviation-fuel, india, oil-refineries, sanctions]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Second Wave of Fuel Collapse: Russia Urgently Buys Expensive Gasoline and Jet Fuel in Asia

![Long queue of cars at a Gazpromneft gas station amid the second wave of fuel collapse in Russia and emergency purchases of gasoline in Asia](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/20/rf-vtoraya-volna-toplivnogo-deficita-import-benzina-iz-azii/rf-vtoraya-volna-toplivnogo-deficita-import-benzina-iz-azii-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Import volumes of gasoline and jet fuel into Russia in August will rise to 270,000 tons.
- Imported fuel from India is 40% more expensive than the exchange price of AI-92 due to freight and insurance costs.
- Drone strikes have disabled up to 40% of refining capacity, causing a shortage for a third of Russians.

In August 2026, Russia is forced to sharply increase purchases of automotive gasoline and aviation kerosene in Asian countries against the backdrop of a second wave of a large-scale fuel shortage. According to data from analytical companies Vortexa and Kpler, cited by The Moscow Times, the volume of imports of these fuel types into the Russian Federation will rise to 270,000 tons in the current month. The main reason is the acute shortage of domestic fuel in the internal market following a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries.

### Tankers, Routes, and Asian Ports

This week, according to analysts, at least two tankers are expected to arrive at ports in the Russian Far East. One of the ships is carrying more than 40,000 tons of Indian-origin jet fuel loaded in the Johor Strait off the coast of Malaysia. The second will deliver about 30,000 tons of gasoline transshipped at the South Korean port of Yosu. Earlier, in early August, the first tanker with Indian gasoline was already unloaded at the port of Vitino; supplies could only be resumed after prolonged price disputes, as imported fuel turned out to be significantly more expensive than domestic wholesale rates — more than 100 rubles per liter (about $1.20). The unloading of at least two more ships with automotive fuel is expected.

### Price Gap and Retail Pressure

According to the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation, in July the cost of gasoline imported from India was 100,466 rubles (about $1,207) per ton. This is 40% higher than the average price of AI-92 grade at the St. Petersburg Exchange — 71,870 rubles (about $864) per ton. "The 40% difference, related to freight and ship insurance costs, complicates retail sales: to offset the costs of purchasing such expensive fuel, retail networks will have to raise prices even further," explained economist Kirill Rodionov.

### Roots of the Crisis: Strikes on Refining Capacity

Drone attacks on Russian oil refineries have triggered a new fuel crisis in the Russian Federation. According to current estimates, over the last few months, strikes have disabled up to 40% of the country's refining capacity, resulting in about a third of Russians already facing a fuel shortage. Against the backdrop of the fuel shortage in the country, there have also been problems with automotive oils, which exacerbates the overall logistical and consumer stress.

### Contradictory Data

There are discrepancies in the details in available sources. For example, in one of the reports, the first tanker with Indian gasoline is described as having been unloaded at the "Arctic port of Vitino," whereas geographically the port of Vitino is located in the Far East (Yakutia), not in the Arctic — this is likely an editorial inaccuracy in the original source. In addition, the UNIAN publication uses the formula of an export increase from a "friendly country" of "more than 100 times," while RBC and Kpler/Vortexa analysts give specific monthly tonnages (around 270,000 tons) and a breakdown by ships. The essence of both versions coincides — Russia is urgently increasing Asian imports — however, the exact scales and geography of individual shipments are formulated differently in different materials.

The combination of data indicates that Russia has entered the second phase of the fuel crisis, where imports from Asia are becoming not a reserve, but a systemic tool for supporting the market. At the same time, the price gap between domestic and imported quotes is being passed on to retail networks, creating risks of further fuel price increases for the end consumer in the coming weeks.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Second wave of fuel collapse in Russia. Moscow is buying expensive gasoline in Asia](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/druga-hvilya-palivnogo-kolapsu-rf-moskva-1787222257.html) - Основные цифры: 270 тыс. тонн импорта в августе, 40 тыс. т авиакеросина из Малайзии/Индии, 30 тыс. т бензина из Йосу, цена 100 466 руб/т (+40% к бирже), цитата экономиста.
- [Russia urgently increases gasoline imports from India and Asia - Media](https://korrespondent.net/world/russia/4904628-rossyia-ekstrenno-uvelychyvaet-ymport-benzyna-yz-yndyy-y-azyy-smy) - Подтверждает экстренный рост импорта из Индии и Азии на фоне дефицита.
- [Russia began buying gasoline from India](https://www.dw.com/ru/rossia-nacala-zakupat-benzin-u-indii/a-77791290) - Подтверждает факт начала закупок бензина у Индии как нового канала поставок.
- [Crisis won't be saved: Russia increased gasoline imports from a friendly country by more than 100 times](https://www.unian.net/economics/energetics/deficit-benzina-v-rossii-sosednyaya-strana-uvelichila-eksport-bolee-chem-v-100-raz-13432884.html) - Опережает формулой «в 100 раз» рост экспорта; совпадает по сути, но отличается от тоннажных оценок RBC/Kpler — отражено в блоке противоречий.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: How much fuel does Russia plan to import in August?
**A:** According to estimates by Vortexa and Kpler, the volume of imports of automotive gasoline and aviation kerosene into Russia in August will rise to 270,000 tons.

### Q: Why is imported gasoline more expensive than domestic?
**A:** Imported fuel from India costs 40% more than the exchange price of AI-92 due to freight and ship insurance costs; this forces retail networks to raise prices.

### Q: What caused the second wave of fuel shortage?
**A:** Strikes by Ukrainian drones on Russian refineries, which, according to estimates, have disabled up to 40% of refining capacity and led to a fuel shortage for about a third of the population.