---
title: "Oil Rallies as EU Proposes Phasing Out Russian Supply This Year"
description: "Oil jumped as the European Union proposed to ban Russian crude over the next six months and refined products by the end of the year."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Business Maverick"
author: "Bloomberg"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/bloomberg/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-05-04-oil-rallies-as-eu-proposes-phasing-out-russian-supply-this-year/"
published: "2022-05-04T17:38:58"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 587
---

# Oil Rallies as EU Proposes Phasing Out Russian Supply This Year

> Oil jumped as the European Union proposed to ban Russian crude over the next six months and refined products by the end of the year.

By Bloomberg · Published 4 May 2022, 19:38 SAST

## Content

Futures in New York climbed 3.8% to trade around $106 a barrel on Wednesday. The EU’s plan is the most significant energy response from the bloc to the war in Ukraine as it seeks to cut reliance on Moscow. As well as directly banning oil imports, the EU is also targeting insurers in a move that could alter Moscow’s ability to [ship](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-04/eu-aims-to-target-russia-s-global-oil-sales-with-insurance-ban) product anywhere in the world.

In a mixed report, U.S. crude stockpiles rose 1.3 million barrels last week, according to an Energy Information Administration report. Meanwhile, East Coast distillate inventories fell to a record low of 22.4 million barrels, a closely watched figure as the region grapples with shrinking supplies.

Traders have been keenly focused on just how much the war will affect output from Russia, one of the biggest producers.

“This will be a complete import ban on all Russian oil, seaborne and pipeline, crude and refined,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “We will make sure that we phase out Russian oil in an orderly fashion, in a way that allows us and our partners to secure alternative supply routes and minimizes the impact on global markets.”

Europe is highly dependent on Russian crude, and some countries will find it easier to switch supply than others. Russia shipped about 720,000 barrels a day of crude to European refineries through its main pipeline to the region last year. That compares with seaborne volumes of 1.57 million barrels a day from its Baltic, Black Sea and Arctic ports.

The European Commission’s plan “removes some of the overhang from a lack of a clear proposal in prior weeks,” said Rohan Reddy, director of research at Global X Management. “It’s a clear signal by the EU that the bloc is willing to move on from Russian oil, despite its current dependence on it. It will need to be voted on by the EU’s member states, but putting forth a framework is a major step.”

[Read more: EU raises pressure on Russia, targeting oil and biggest bank](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-04/eu-proposes-phasing-out-russian-oil-by-the-end-of-the-year)

Hungary and Slovakia, which had been opposed to a swift cutoff of Russian oil and are highly reliant on its supply, will be granted a longer time frame -- until the end of 2023 -- to enforce the sanctions, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The phaseout of Russian oil in Europe will come at a time when the world is grappling with a refined-product crisis -- potentially making it all the more costly for the region to wean itself off Russian fuels such as diesel.

| Prices: |
| --- |
| - West Texas Intermediate for June delivery rose $3.97 to $106.38 a barrel at 10:49 a.m. in New York - Brent futures for July settlement increased $3.97 to $108.94 a barrel. |

The U.S. diesel crack spread -- a gauge of the profitability of turning crude into diesel -- has surged this year as countries cut back on Russian fuel, depleting supplies.

Oil investors are also counting down to a meeting on Thursday of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies on production policy. The 23-nation group is expected to ratify another [modest supply increase](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-29/opec-set-to-stick-with-supply-plan-even-as-eu-eyes-russia-ban) amid signs that the alliance is failing to deliver agreed-upon volumes.

| Related news and commentary: |
| --- |
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