- Russian gas flows to Europe remain stable, but Western sanctions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and voluntary actions by buyers are starting to impact its crude oil and oil product sales.
While only a few countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia, have imposed outright bans, some buyers in Europe are shunning Russian oil to avoid reputational damage or possible legal troubles.
Some 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil and products may not find their way to market beginning in April, the International Energy Agency estimates, as self-sanctioning becomes more evident.
Oil loadings at Russia's western ports are expected to slip during early April, preliminary data showed.
Following are actions announced by countries and major European energy companies:
WHO IS STILL BUYING RUSSIAN OIL?
BULGARIA
Neftochim Burgas refinery, owned by Russia's Lukoil , was already processing 40% non-Russian crude oil and could increase this to 100% if need be, although there are currently no plans to cut Russian intake, a government official said.
CHINA
China is the second largest Russian oil importer after the European Union, and the IEA says seaborne shipments could even increase. Petro-Logistics, which monitors oil production, is seeing more Russian crude heading to China.
EUROPEAN UNION
The 27-member bloc, which relies on Russia for 40% of its gas and 27% of its crude imports, is split over curbing Russian intake but a plan to ditch Russian fossil fuels over the longer-term is expected by end-May.
FRANCE
Russian crude oil accounted for 9.5% of total imports in 2021 but the French Association of Petroleum Industry (Ufip) said France has the means to find alternative supplies. It is already moving away from Russian diesel, which accounted for about a quarter of imports in 2020, it added.
GERMANY
Russian crude accounted for about 14% of intake at Germany's largest refinery, Miro, which operated as normal on March 17..
Germany's PCK Schwedt refinery, 54% owned by Rosneft is fed with Russian crude via the Druzhba pipeline, as well as the landlocked Leuna refinery, majority owned by TotalEnergies.
HELLENIC PETROLEUM
Greece's biggest oil refiner said Russian crude accounted for about 15% of its feed in the second half of 2021 and can be replaced by similar grades mostly from the Middle East. It has already secured additional supplies from Saudi Arabia.
HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM,
India's state refiner has bought 2 million barrels of Russian Urals crude for May loading, according to trading sources.
INDIAN OIL
India's top refiner bought 3 million barrels of Urals for May delivery, trade sources said.
ISAB
Italy's largest refinery, owned by Swiss-based trading and supply group Litasco SA which is controlled by Lukoil, was working as normal as of March 4.
It processes various crudes.
MOL
The Hungarian oil group said on March 15 that Russia's Druzhba pipeline continued to supply crude. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly opposed sanctions on Russian oil and gas.
NETHERLANDS
Neither the Dutch government nor Rotterdam Port have banned Russian oil. Around 30% of the oil that goes through Rotterdam is Russian. Around 20 million tonnes of Russian oil products go through the port annually.
PKN Orlen
Poland's largest refiner has said it is continuing to buy Russian crude for its refineries in Poland, Lithuania and the Czech Republic, but was prepared for "any scenario", including a complete suspension of Russian supply.
TURKEY
Turkey is buying Russian crude and related products and has no plans to stop. It opposes sanctions on Moscow. Tupras is the largest refiner in Turkey.
WHO HAS STOPPED BUYING RUSSIAN OIL?
AMPOL
The Australian refiner says it has not bought Russian crude oil or products since the conflict started.
BP
The British oil major, which is abandoning its stake in Rosneft, will not enter into new deals with Russian entities for loading at Russian ports, unless "essential for ensuring security of supplies".
BRITAIN
Britain said it would phase out imports of Russian oil by the end of 2022. Russian oil and oil products accounted for 8% of the UK's demand.
CANADA
Canada has said it will ban Russian crude imports, and is also looking into banning refined products. It has not imported Russian crude oil since 2019, but in 2021 bought naphtha, diesel and gasoline.
CEPSA
The Spanish firm owned by Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala and private equity firm Carlyle, has stopped buying Russian crude, natural gas and oil products and doesn't expect its position to change in the foreseable future.
ENI
The energy group, 30.3% owned by the Italian government, is suspending purchases of Russian oil.
EQUINOR
Norway's majority state-owned energy firm has stopped trading Russian oil as it winds down its operations in the country. However, it has contractual commitments under which it was to receive four oil cargoes in March.
GALP
The Portuguese oil and gas company has suspended all new purchases of petroleum products from Russia or Russian companies.
MAERSK
The Danish shipping group has stopped buying Russian oil for its vessels.
NESTE
The Finnish refiner, which relied on Russia for two-thirds of its crude, will replace the volumes with crude from other regions. It will also not make new deals to buy petroleum products from Russia.
OMV
The Austrian oil and gas firm has said it is not refining any Russian crude grades in its European refineries, and has no intention to do so in the "near future".
PREEM
Sweden's largest refiner, owned by Saudi billionaire Mohammed Hussein al-Amoudi, has "paused" new orders of Russian crude oil, which accounted for around 7% of its purchases, replacing it with North Sea barrels.
REPSOL
The Spanish firm has stopped buying Russian crude oil in the spot market.
RWE
The German utility said it would stop new supply deals for Russian gas or oil.
SHELL
The world's largest petroleum trader will stop buying Russian crude and phase out its involvement in all Russian hydrocarbons.
TOTALENERGIES
The French company has stopped buying oil from Russia, although one of its landlocked refineries in Germany continues to receive Russian crude by pipeline.
VIVA ENERGY
The refiner, which operates in Australia under the Shell brand, has stopped buying Russian crude oil.
UNITED STATES
The United States, the world's biggest oil consumer, imposed a wide ban on Russian oil and gas imports on March 8. Importers have until April 22 to discharge cargoes moving under pre-ban contracts.