The bloc’s 27 members have been unable to agree on a ban, with Germany warning against hasty measures that could push the economy into recession, and some countries, such as Hungary, are opposing any sanctions.
Germany, however, aims to end Russian oil imports by the end of this year, officials said, as does Poland.
Many buyers in Europe are voluntarily abstaining from Russian crude to avoid damage to reputation or potential legal difficulties.
China’s state refiners, such as Sinopec, are honoring existing Russian oil contracts, but avoiding new ones despite heavy discounts may not be seen as openly supporting Moscow.
Meanwhile, India, the world’s third largest oil importer, has increased its purchase of crude oil from Russia by taking advantage of huge discounts.
It has booked at least 16 million barrels of Russian oil since the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, which is close to the level of all 2021 imports, Reuters calculations showed.
Below are current and former buyers of Russian crude (in alphabetical order):
current buyer
Bharat Petroleum
Indian state-run refiner Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd has bought 2 million barrels of Russian Urals from trader Trafigura for May loading, two sources familiar with the purchase said. The company regularly buys Russian Urals for its 310,000 barrels per day (bpd) Kochi refinery in South India.
Hellenic Petroleum
Greece’s largest oil refiner depends on Russian crude for about 15% of its consumption. The company had secured additional supplies from Saudi Arabia earlier this month.
Hindustan Petroleum
According to trade sources last week, India’s state refiner bought 2 million barrels of Russian Urals for May loading.
Indian Oil Corporation
Trade sources said that on March 23, India’s top refiner bought 3 million barrels of Ural for May delivery from Vitol. This is the second purchase of the Urals by the IOC since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February.
The company has a contract with Rosneft that gives it the option to buy up to 2 million tons in 2022, equivalent to about 15 million barrels of Ural crude.
isab
Italy’s largest refinery, owned by Lukoil-controlled Swiss-based Litasco SA, processes Russian and non-Russian crudes.
leuna
The land-locked Leuna refinery in East Germany, which is majority-owned by TotalEnergies, is also supplied with Russian crude by the Druzhba pipeline.
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals
The state-run Indian refiner has bought 1 million barrels of Russian Ural crude for May loading through a tender from a European trader, a rare purchase prompted by a discount offer.
miros
Germany’s largest refinery, Miro, accounts for about 14% of Russian crude oil consumption, with Rosneft owned 24%.
Acquire
Hungarian Oil Group, which operates three refineries in Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia, continues to buy Russian crude through the Druzhba pipeline, as well as refined products, a company source told Reuters.
Hungary opposes sanctions on Russian oil and gas.
Naira Energy
The Indian private refiner, owned by Russia’s Rosneft, has bought Russian oil after a year-long hiatus, buying nearly 1.8 million barrels of Ural from trader Trafigura.
naftochim burgas
A Bulgarian refinery owned by Russia’s Lukoil, and continues to refine Russian crude, accounts for about 60% of Russian crude consumption.
PCK Schwedt
Germany’s PCK Schweidt refinery, 54% owned by Rosneft, receives crude through the Druzhba pipeline.
pt pertamina
Indonesian state energy firm PT Pertamina is looking to buy crude from Russia as it seeks oil for a newly modified refinery.
pkn orlen
Poland’s biggest refiner has stopped buying Russian crude on the spot market, switching to North Sea oil, but is still buying the Urals under already signed contracts that expire at the end of this year or later. are happening.
The company, which operates refineries in Lithuania, Poland and the Czech Republic, saw its gains from the refining boom in March due to discounts paid for Russian oil.
Rotterdam Refinery
Exxon Mobil declined to comment on whether its Dutch refinery in Rotterdam was using Russian crude.
sinopec
China’s state-run Sinopec, Asia’s biggest refiner, continues to purchase Russian crude under long-term contracts already signed, but shied away from new spot deals.
zeeland refinery
The Dutch refinery, which is 45% owned by Lukoil, declined to comment on whether it was using Russian crude.
former buyer
bp
The British oil major, which is giving up its stake in Rosneft, will not enter into new deals with Russian entities for loading at Russian ports unless it is “necessary to ensure the security of supplies”.
aeos
Japan’s biggest refiner has stopped buying crude from Russia, while some cargoes signed under previous agreements will reach Japan around April.
ENI
Energy Group, 30.3% owned by the Italian government, is suspending purchases of Russian oil.
No Russian crude will be used at Germany’s Bayernoil refinery, in which Eni and Rosneft have stakes.
equinox
Norway’s majority state-owned energy firm has stopped trading Russian oil as it shuts down its operations in the country.
fiction
The Portuguese Oil and Gas Company has suspended all new purchases of petroleum products from Russia or Russian companies.
Glencore
The global mining and trading firm, which holds a 0.57% stake in Rosneft, said it would continue to honor its obligations under already signed contracts, but “will not enter into any new trading business in relation to Russian origin goods, unless directed by the concerned Govt. Authorities”.
nestle
The Finnish refiner has Russian oil contracts until the end of the year, but is not signing any new supply agreements.
prem
Sweden’s biggest refiner, owned by Saudi billionaire Mohammed Hussein al-Amoudi, has “paused” new orders for Russian crude, which account for about 7% of its purchases, replacing them with North Sea barrels.
Repsol
The Spanish company has stopped buying Russian crude oil in the spot market.
oyster
The world’s largest petroleum trader will stop buying Russian crude and end its participation in all Russian hydrocarbons.
total energy
The French oil major will not sign new contracts, promising to stop buying Russian crude and petroleum products by the end of this year.
Varo Energy
The Swiss refiner, which owns 51.4% of Germany’s Bayernoil refinery, said it did not plan to enter into new deals to buy Russian crude.
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