Russia asks companies to compile first-ever annual export schedules

Moscow: Russia set its first ever annual crude oil export schedule and expects shipments to remain flat compared to the first quarter at 4.10 million barrels per day (bpd), the schedule showed.

Russia's energy ministry has requested companies to compile annual export schedules instead of quarterly plans for better planning purposes but as changes come after the end of the first quarter the new schedule includes only the second, third and fourth quarter of this year.

The plan obtained by Reuters foresees no major changes at key export destinations such as the Baltic Sea port of Primorsk or Black Sea Novorossiisk until the end of 2008, but showed a few important changes on smaller routes.

Poland's refineries will get their regular volume of crude on a per barrel basis, but the Polish port of Gdansk will see its re-exports of Russian oil falling further amid tensions between key traders, suppliers and the pipeline monopoly.

Falling supplies

Gdansk will get 2.25 million tonnes of Kazakh crude only until the end of the year, with no Russian supplies planned. If divided by three quarters it would translate into 0.85 million tonnes per quarter versus 1.03 million in the first quarter.

No changes were seen on the schedule for Germany, which traders said was a surprise given the battle between Russian oil major Lukoil and the monopoly importer of Russia crude Sunimex.

"It is a surprise that Lukoil was given such a large share. It looks like the authorities are gearing up toward helping it in the dispute," one trader said.

Lukoil is set to supply 5.25 million tonnes out of the total 16.8 million set for Germany until the year-end, representing 31 per cent of the overall supplies, up from 30 per cent in the first quarter.