Belarus to ship 35% extra oil products via Russian sea ports in 2021

The official reminded that Belarus and Russia had signed the relevant intergovernmental agreement. “We've already rerouted our shipments to ports of the Russian Federation. We estimate we will actually ship at least 2.3 million tonnes while the target was close to 1.7 million tonnes,” he said.

Andrei Rybakov remarked that shipments had been diversified due to risks and the rhetoric from the direction of the Baltic states. “We don't want to depend on some circumstances. We want to do only business and benefit our organizations. It is profitable for us today. We work,” he said.

The Belneftekhim head also noted that the Belarusian side keeps monitoring the Baltic direction as well. “We will work there too if necessary. Certain work regarding individual freight flows is being done over there, too. There is work there, too,” he said.

BelTA reported earlier that an intergovernmental agreement on the organization of cooperation in the transportation and transshipment of Belarusian oil products, which are supposed to be exported to third countries, via Russian sea ports was signed in Moscow on 19 February 2021.

In line with the document Belarusian companies are supposed to transship over 9.8 million tonnes of freight in Russia's Baltic Sea ports in 2021-2023. The agreement may be extended after that. The freight includes such cargoes as furnace oil, gasoline, and lubricants.

Oil products made by Belarusian oil refineries are transported to the Russian Federation by rail. The document limits tariffs on transportation by rail and tariffs on transshipping services in Russian sea ports. The sides guarantee that the rates will not be raised at all, except for general indexation every year. The Russian side also vows to provide rolling stock for shipping Belarusian oil products.