Sharp Increase in Ukraine's Gasoline Imports
In January 2025, Ukraine's gasoline imports surged by 70% compared to the same period in 2024. This significant rise highlights the country's growing reliance on foreign fuel sources. The primary shipments originated from:
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Germany
- Romania
- Moldova
Imports of E5 and E7 gasoline grades grew from 7.5 thousand tons to 12.4 thousand tons in January. The UPG network received the largest single shipment of 11.6 thousand tons. The leading supplier was ORLEN, which shipped 50 thousand tons from Lithuania and 20.5 thousand tons from Poland. From Germany, Unimot and Select Energy supplied 22 thousand tons. An additional 54 thousand tons of fuel produced by OMV Petrom and Rompetrol were imported from Romania and Moldova. Shipments from Greece's Hellenic Petroleum also resumed at the end of January.
Factors Behind the Import Boom
The number of companies importing gasoline rose from 88 to 97 in January. Analysts point to two main drivers for this increase: the loss of domestic refining capacity from the Kremenchuk facility and heightened demand for generator fuel. This import surge reflects the market's adaptation to new supply and demand realities, with Ukrainian companies turning to foreign suppliers to meet necessary volumes.
In a related regulatory move, Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, passed a decision on February 10th permitting the sale of alcohol-free gasoline until July 1, 2026. This measure is expected to help stabilize the market and increase the available supply in the coming years.