THE number of bulkers calling at Russian ports and then immediately after calling in at a European port has fallen 66% in the wake of sanctions.

A total of 163 bulk carriers called at almost a dozen Russian ports and then immediately travelled to a European Union port from January to May 2023, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence data. That compares with 483 over the same period in 2022.

A further 18 have sailed from Russia to Europe this month to June 21, the data shows.

Several ships are on a regular trade route, heading to different locations across Europe after calling to Russia.

Most voyages originated in St Petersburg, followed by Novorossiysk and Ust-Luga.

EU sanctions cover the export from Russia to the EU of coal and other solid fossil fuels, steel and other-related products, iron, cement, asphalt, wood, synthetic rubber and plastics.

However, they exclude food and fertilisers, as well as the handling of Kazakh coal through Russian terminals. 

Ports in Italy and Belgium have received the highest volume of vessels this year, followed by the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, France, Latvia and Romania, Lloyd’s List Intelligence data shows.

The port authorities of Riga and Rotterdam both said that cargoes received were Kazakh coal, shipped through the Russian ports of Vysotsk, Ust-Luga and Murmansk.

Other ports contacted by Lloyd's List either did not respond to questions or said it was not their place to comment.

Some 50% of the ships arriving into the EU from Russia between January and May were large handysizes, the data shows. Prior to the war it was common for panamax/kamsarmaxes to sail between the EU and Russia, with 173 calls recorded in the January to May period of 2021. This year just 13 have departed Russia for the bloc.

While many owners are shunning Russian trade due to war risk premiums, security concerns and taking a stand against Russia’s actions in Ukraine, other owners are more willing to expose themselves to Russian business.

Most of the ships are Greek-owned followed by the United Arab Emirates and Türkiye.

Bulk carriers owned by companies headquartered in the UAE are more active on the route between Russia and the EU than in previous years. Some two calls were made by these vessels in the first five months of 2022, rising to 22 this year. 

Lloyd’s List understands that shipping companies are generally carrying out due-diligence, either through in-house legal compliance or hiring experts to vet and clear cargoes in order not to breach sanctions.

There is no indication that sanctions are being breached by any of the voyages described in this report.