Drone Assaults Disrupt Baltic Sea Oil Exports Amid Middle Eastern Tensions

The Baltic Sea ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, Russia's major petroleum export outlets, have halted crude oil and fuel exports due to drone attacks. This suspension adds to global shortages exacerbated by tensions in the Middle East, notably the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the U.S.-Israeli conflict.

The Baltic Sea ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, which are Russia's largest petroleum export outlets, have halted exports of crude oil and fuel since Sunday. This suspension follows drone attacks, according to two industry sources who spoke with Reuters on Monday.

The stoppage contributes to global oil shortages, already heightened by Tehran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz amidst the U.S.-Israeli conflict over Iran. The governor of the Leningrad region, Alexander Drozdenko, confirmed that several fuel reservoirs in Primorsk were set ablaze by drone attacks but did not mention any disruption to oil exports.

It remains unclear if the port of Ust-Luga sustained damage. Transneft, Russia's oil pipeline monopoly, which manages both ports, has not responded to requests for comment. Primorsk can export over a million barrels of crude oil daily, while Ust-Luga exported 32.9 million metric tons of oil products last year.