Putin Restricts Public Access to Russian Oil Refining and Export Data

Key Facts

1President Putin signed a decree restricting public access to refinery production figures, export contracts, and tanker routes.

2The restrictions took effect immediately upon signing, with the government given 10 days to define specific product codes covered.

President Vladimir Putin signed a decree restricting public access to refinery production figures, export contracts, and tanker routes. Reuters reported that the new measures prohibit the disclosure of product prices, quantities, buyer identities, and payment terms, as well as vessel coordinates at export terminals. The restrictions took effect immediately upon signing, and the government has been given 10 days to define the specific product codes covered by the mandate.

The move aims to shield Russia's energy sector from Western sanctions by obscuring the logistics and financial terms of its oil and gas trade. According to oilprice.com, gasoline output has fallen by approximately 20% and diesel by 30%, while IEA figures placed national refinery throughput at 3.8 million barrels a day by June, the lowest level in over twenty years. The Kremlin cited hostile actions from Washington and its allies as the primary rationale for the increased data secrecy.