By the end of the previous year, several Spanish energy companies stepped up imports of diesel from Russia, reaching a volume not seen in a decade. Analysts tracked imports at 851 thousand tons, marking the highest annual total since 2011. Local media, including El Confidential, reported these figures citing data from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves Corporation.
In 2022, Spain imported 851 thousand tons of Russian diesel, placing Russia second only to Italy in delivering this fuel to Spain for that year. The spike underscored a temporary surge in Russian diesel supply, even as broader energy strategies in the country began to shift away from Russian resources.
Looking at the year as a whole, Spain markedly reduced its reliance on Russian oil products, cutting the relevant figure by 73 percent compared with 2021. This shift reflected a broader recalibration of energy sources amid evolving European policy and market dynamics.
Experts indicated that further reductions in Russian diesel imports could continue into 2023, aided by new policy measures and market changes. Notably, as of early February, the European Union began implementing stricter rules aimed at curbing the import of petroleum products transported by sea from Russia, aligning with a broader embargo strategy.
Starting on the fifth of the month, a price mechanism for Russian petroleum products, including diesel, began to operate in Europe. Authorities set ceiling prices for different product categories: some diesel and other fuels sold above crude-oil parity were capped at around one hundred dollars per barrel, while others traded at lower levels, such as about forty-five dollars for certain discounted products like naphtha and fuel oil. These ceilings are part of a wider effort to manage energy markets and reduce exposure to Russian supplies while ensuring stable access for European industry.