Fuel imports to Ukraine reach a 16-month high: what lies behind the record 946 thousand tons

Record Fuel Imports in Ukraine

In November 2025, Ukraine's imports of diesel fuel, gasoline, and liquefied gas reached a record 946 thousand tons, the highest figure in the last 16 months. A particularly notable increase is observed in diesel fuel imports, which amounted to 700 thousand tons, equivalent to 23.3 thousand tons per day.

Reasons for Increased Imports

The significant increase in imports occurred against the backdrop of a critical situation in the fuel market. Serhiy Kuyn noted that the situation worsened after the introduction of a ban on diesel supplies from the Romanian port of Constanta starting October 1. This step led to a loss of 25% of diesel fuel supplies, which dealt a significant blow to the market. Additional difficulties arose due to the reduction of supplies from the Hungarian refinery MOL to a minimum, as well as the downtime of the Orlen Lietuva plant throughout October.

Reasons for the increase in imports include energy shortages and the recovery of logistics. In addition, the market has faced five further blows, including:

• diversion at the MOL refinery,
• repairs at the Lithuanian refinery,
• adverse weather conditions,
• absence of domestic production,
• sanctions against 'Lukoil' and 'Rosneft' companies.

The situation in Serbia, where diesel fuel needs reach up to 200 thousand tons per month, has also influenced the overall context of imports in Ukraine.

Thus, record imports of fuel indicate a sharp need for energy resources, driven by many factors that have influenced the market in recent months. This situation underscores the vulnerability of the Ukrainian fuel market to external influences and the need for stable supply sources, which may impact the country’s energy security in the future. Given the rising demand and import restrictions, Ukraine must consider alternative options for ensuring energy resources and restoring domestic fuel production.