Russia’s oil refineries raise August throughput amid repairs and seasonal demand
Russian oil refineries boosted their throughput in August, as reported by Kommersant. The paper notes that average daily refining in the first half of August reached about 760 thousand tonnes, a 2% rise from July. If this pace holds, it could mark a record for 2024 and signal a robust month for the sector.
The uptick in refining is linked to the restart of operations at Gazprom’s Surgut ZSK and Astrakhan GPP after planned repairs. An improving railway situation also contributed to smoother logistics and higher processing volumes.
Seasonal demand typically drives higher August refining, a trend that has been observed in past years. Last August, average daily processing stood at 758.4 thousand tonnes, indicating that this year’s August performance is in line with or slightly above last year’s seasonal peak.
Russia has renewed its ban on gasoline exports, a policy in effect since August and planned to stay in place through the end of October. In response, oil companies are maintaining domestic deliveries at July levels while building up reserves for September, a month often marked by refinery maintenance work and scheduled repairs.
Prices for AI-95 and AI-92 gasoline on the SPbMTSB exchange on August 16 showed small movements, rising by 0.2% and 0.7% respectively. Rosstat data indicate that since the start of the year, retail gasoline prices have edged higher, with an overall increase of about 6% to an average of 57.67 rubles per liter.
The broader market context indicates a continuing emphasis on domestic supply and strategic reserve management as producers respond to seasonal demand, policy constraints, and ongoing maintenance cycles.
In the consumer segment, a notable share of households and commercial fleets has been evaluating fuel efficiency and long-term ownership costs as prices trend upward. This ongoing dynamic underscores the interplay between refinery throughput, regulatory measures, and retail pricing as the year progresses.