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Sunday, January 4, 2026

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The differentials remain the same

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 2, 2026

The differentials between Caspian and Urals crude oil remained unchanged on Friday, in a'mild' market. Russia -and a few of its neighbouring countries - were off for the New Year holiday. There were no bids or offers reported to Platts on Friday for Urals, Azeri BTC - and CPC Blend.

Police in Finland say that Finland has made progress with its investigation of cable breaches

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 2, 2026

The Finnish police said on Friday that they had made progress in the criminal investigation of the damage to an underwater telecommunications cables owned by Elisa. The cargo vessel "Fitburg", which was en route to Israel from Russia, was suspected…

NY Times: Russia requests that US stop pursuing a fleeing oil tanker

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 1, 2026

The?U.S. has been asked by Russia to stop its pursuit of a?oil tanker 'that was destined for Venezuela and is now fleeing the U.S. Coast Guard in the Atlantic Ocean, according to a report from Thursday’s New York Times. The New York Times reported on Thursday that the U.S.

Kyiv claims that Russia has attacked Ukrainian Black Sea ports, civilian ships and naval vessels.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 30, 2025

Ukraine's navy and government officials said that Russia launched waves of?"drones" to attack port infrastructure in the Odesa region on Tuesday. The Ukrainian navy reported that two civilian ships, Emmakris III & Captain Karam, flying the flag…

Russia compares US blockade Venezuela to piratery

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 25, 2025

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the United States is reviving piratery and banditry by blocking Venezuela. It hoped President Donald Trump’s pragmatic approach would prevent a catastrophe. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry…

Russia has set a grain export quota of 20 million tonnes for the period February-June 2020

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 24, 2025

The?government announced on Wednesday that Russia has set its grain export quota to protect the domestic market at 20 million metric tonnes?for second half of?marketing season. The second half marketing season will run from February 15, 2026 to June 30, 2020.

Russell: China overtakes OPEC+ to become the primary oil price maker

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 23, 2025

The conventional wisdom on the crude oil markets is that producers like OPEC+ largely control the price of crude oil by changing output levels in order to achieve a desired result. This shibboleth has been challenged by China in 2025, who used…

Russia blames the low grain prices in the world for its stalled exports

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 23, 2025

In a newspaper interview published on Tuesday, Dmitry Patrushev, the Deputy Prime Minister, said that low global prices have slowed down Russian grain exports during this marketing season. He also stressed that Russian grain remains in high demand.

Russell: China overtakes OPEC+ to become the primary oil price maker

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 22, 2025

The conventional wisdom on the crude oil markets is that producers like OPEC+ largely control the price of crude oil by adjusting output levels in order to achieve a desired result. This shibboleth has been challenged by China in 2025, who used…

Officials say that a drone attack by Ukraine has damaged two vessels in Russia’s Krasnodar.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 21, 2025

Regional authorities in Russia's Krasnodar Region said that a Ukrainian drone attack damaged two vessels and two piers, as well as causing a fire, on the Black Sea Coast. The Krasnodar operational headquarters announced on the Telegram app that…

Ship data shows that a Russian naphtha-tanker on blacklist enters Venezuelan water while another diverts.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 19, 2025

Ship tracking data revealed that a tanker under U.S. sanctions, carrying 300,000 barrels naphtha from Russia, entered Venezuelan waters on Thursday night, while another started re-routing course?into the Atlantic Ocean. This was a result of differing last-minute decisions made by ship owners…

EU targets 41 more vessels in Russia's Shadow Fleet

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 18, 2025

The European Union imposed sanctions on Thursday against 41 additional ships of 'Russia's Shadow Fleet, bringing the total number of designated vessels to nearly 600. EU Council: The EU has banned the ships from entering EU ports, and they can…

Authorities say that three people were killed by Ukrainian drones in the Rostov region of Russia.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 18, 2025

The local governor confirmed that three people were killed, including two crew of a cargo ship, in overnight Ukrainian drone attacks against the Russian port Rostov on Don and the town of Bataysk, in the southern region of Rostov. On his Telegram?messaging application channel…

US readies new Russia sanctions if Putin rejects peace deal, Bloomberg News reports

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 17, 2025

Bloomberg News reported Wednesday that the United States is preparing to impose more sanctions on Russia's energy sector in the event President Vladimir Putin rejects a peace agreement with Ukraine. The report stated that the U.S. was 'considering' options…

Turkey claims to have shot down an uncontrolled drone in the Black sea

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 16, 2025

The defence ministry said that Turkey shot down a drone which was approaching its airspace above the Black Sea. The?ministry issued a statement saying that Turkish and NATO F-16 jets had been put on alert after the 'detection' of the drone.

EU sanctions companies and individuals who move Russian oil

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 15, 2025

According to a EU official and its Official Journal, the 'European Union' has adopted sanctions against companies and individuals accused of operating Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers in order to circumvent Western sanctions. The sanctions are aimed at nine "enablers" of the shadow fleet.

Data shows that Russia's fuel exports by sea fell slightly in November.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 12, 2025

Data from industry sources showed that Russia's seaborne exports of oil products in November fell by 0.8% compared to October, at 7,494 million metric tons. The impact of drone strikes?on the energy infrastructure has been offset by a certain…

Bousso: Trump won't make Venezuela's OPEC member a battlefield.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 10, 2025

Venezuela will likely retain its seat in OPEC, even if U.S. president Donald Trump succeeds in forcing a change in government in the oil rich country. The U.S. wants to strengthen its alliance with the cartel while expanding its own sphere?of?influence. The U.S.

Putin approves Rosneft's and Shell's joint venture stake in Caspian Pipeline Consortium

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 8, 2025

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree clearing the way for 'potential deals' with Rosneft and Shell's joint venture stake in Caspian Pipeline Consortium which exports oil mostly from Kazakhstan. The decree stated that it "allowed" the transactions, which could?result?

Bulgaria rescues a sanctioned tanker which was struck by a Ukrainian drone

Posted to Maritime Reporter on December 5, 2025

The transport ministry announced that the rescue operation was put on hold because of bad weather. The vessel has been identified as the sanctioned tanker Kairos. It was struck in the Black Sea by a Ukrainian drone last week in Turkey's Exclusive Economic Zone…

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