The Security Service of Ukraine has imposed restrictions on imports of diesel fuel of Indian origin. According to the decision sent to the Energy Customs Service on September 15, all batches of fuel from India will be allowed to enter the market only after passing mandatory screening and laboratory checks. The new rules will come into effect on October 1, Dengi.ua reported, citing information enkorr.
It is noted that a similar mechanism has already been applied in September 2023 in relation to diesel fuel from Turkey. Then the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine recognized a number of Turkish ports as risky because of their close ties with Russian fuel supplies, which led to the introduction of additional control and laboratory analysis. According to the group "A-95", since then, Ukraine has received 65.8 thousand tons of diesel from the Turkish ports of Marmara and Turpas, with the bulk of the volume (71%) came in April-August this year.
It is reported that in August 2025, diesel shipments from India amounted to 119,000 tons, equivalent to 18% of the total imports. The market expects that after the introduction of restrictions will increase interest in alternative destinations, primarily southern.
Romanian traders forecast a switch to supplies from the Mediterranean and the Middle East, although they warn of rising premiums and difficulties with available winter diesel. At the same time, fuel shipments to Romania's Constanta from Italy and Saudi Arabia resumed - the first time since last fall.
"Large volumes from India were purchased not because there was no other product on the market, but because Indian fuel was cheaper. The market will adjust to other destinations and prices. For example, in August we have already brought batches of diesel from the SARAS plant," an operator of Oil Terminal told the publication.
Representatives of companies working with tanker shipments are confident that the Ukrainian market will not face shortages. According to Oleksiy Fesenko from Kemexon, the volumes of Indian diesel can be replaced by supplies of Hellenic Petroleum, Motor Oil and STAR, but they will cost more due to the increased demand for tanker transportation.
Additional supply guarantees are also provided by the western direction. Evgeny Pospelov, deputy director of the export department of UNIMOT, said that the company is ready to double the volumes at the expense of Polish ports, bringing them up to 70 thousand tons per month. For this purpose, the company will use its own fleet of Olavion railroad tank cars. In addition, under a long-term lease agreement with HES Wilhelmshaven Tank Terminal in Germany, storage capacity of 78 thousand m³ of fuel is provided, which allows to cover Ukraine's needs up to 120 thousand tons monthly.
"In our opinion, this volume is sufficient. The Ukrainian market has long proved that it is able to respond quickly and flexibly to any challenges, providing the country with the necessary resources as soon as possible," Pospelov emphasized.
According to the publication, the new restrictions will affect only Reliance Industries diesel shipped through the Indian port of Sikka. It was this resource that was supplied to Ukraine through Romanian intermediaries. At the same time, the products of the Vadinar plant (Nayara Energy Limited), where Rosneft and other Russian companies have a controlling stake, are not subject to the bans, as no deliveries from there to Ukraine have been recorded.
