Russia Suspends Kazakh Oil Transit via Druzhba to Germany

Russia has suspended the transit of Kazakh oil through the Druzhba pipeline to Germany starting May 1, prompting Kazakhstan to redirect 260,000 tons of exports via alternative routes and Germany to explore new supply options for the PCK Schwedt refinery.

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy announced the redistribution for May, with 100,000 tons heading to the Ust-Luga port in Russia's Baltic region and 160,000 tons through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium system. Officials stated the changes, agreed upon with shippers, are operational and will not impact the country's annual production plans. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak cited technical limitations as the reason for bypassing Druzhba, a pipeline that has carried Kazakh crude to Germany since 2023.

The Schwedt refinery, located in eastern Germany, relies on these supplies for up to 30 percent of its feedstock. It processed around 10 million tons of oil last year, nearing its 11.5 million-ton capacity, and provides fuels including gasoline, diesel, aviation kerosene, and products for Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and parts of Poland. In 2025, Kazakhstan delivered 2.1 million tons via Druzhba, with...