The Impact of Western Sanctions on Russian Oil Exports and the Maritime Industry

The maritime industry is bracing for significant disruptions as the most aggressive Western sanctions on Russia’s oil sector since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine take effect. These measures, led by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), have targeted 161 tankers and key Russian oil companies, potentially halving Russian oil exports and driving up Brent futures. This situation highlights the critical role of the maritime industry in global oil supply and the complexities of navigating geopolitical tensions. (more…)