CREA Study Reveals G7+ Tankers Carried Most Russian Oil Products in December

Russian Oil Product Transport in December 2025

According to Главком: A December 2025 report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) indicates that the majority of Russian oil products were shipped using tankers from G7+ nations. A total of 338 vessels were involved in exporting crude oil and its derivatives. Of these, 206 were G7+ tankers, accounting for 43% of all seaborne shipments of Russian crude and oil products.

Specifically, tankers from G7+ countries facilitated 26% of Russia's crude oil exports. Non-sanctioned shadow fleet vessels, which operate outside the restrictions, transported 6% of the crude exports, while sanctioned shadow tankers handled the majority at 68%. For refined oil products, G7+ tankers carried a dominant 74% share in December. Sanctioned shadow vessels moved 18% of these products, and non-sanctioned shadow vessels accounted for 7%.

Russia's Reliance on G7+ Tankers

CREA emphasizes that Russia remains heavily dependent on G7+ tankers for its oil product exports. The price caps currently in place are set so high that they rarely succeed in limiting Russian revenue. Consequently, the shadow fleet controls the transportation of most Russian crude oil, highlighting the complex challenges within the country's energy sector. This reliance underscores a significant vulnerability in Western efforts to constrain Moscow's war funding through energy sanctions.

These findings stress the critical role of international energy cooperation and its impact on the Russian economy. Dependence on G7+ tankers could become a pivotal factor in the future, especially under ongoing sanctions and global economic shifts. Simultaneously, monitoring and controlling the shadow schemes used to transport oil products presents a major challenge for international bodies aiming to restrict Russia's energy export earnings.