Kazakhstan Halts 1 Million-Barrel-a-Day Oil Flows to Russian Terminal as Black Sea Attacks Deter Tankers
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Jul 21
Kazakhstan Halts 1 Million-Barrel-a-Day Oil Flows to Russian Terminal as Black Sea Attacks Deter Tankers
3 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Jul 21
Summary
More than 1 million barrels a day of Kazakh crude stopped flowing to the CPC route after ships refused to call at Novorossiysk following Ukrainian attacks on tankers due to load there, traders said.
Two tankers carrying Kazakhstan-produced crude — ASIA and NISSOS IOS — were hit by drones, and Ukraine said it struck more than 110 Russian vessels in nine days in the nearby Sea of Azov.
Brent rose 2.5% to $91.44 a barrel as the disruption hit a route that handles about 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil output and mixes smaller Russian volumes into CPC Blend.
Kazakhstan had already cut its 2026 output outlook by about 5% after earlier CPC damage, underscoring how limited its export alternatives remain despite efforts to reduce reliance on Russia.
The outage adds to wider shipping stress as Hormuz traffic nears a standstill again and Houthi threats in the Red Sea push oil markets tighter.
Are Ukraine's tanker attacks a masterstroke to end the war or a reckless gamble with the global economy?
With its main oil artery now a war zone, can Kazakhstan escape economic ruin by pivoting away from Russia?
As sea drones upend naval power, what new rules will govern the world's most critical shipping lanes?
2026 Drone Attacks on CPC Terminal Suspend 4.6 Million Barrels of Kazakh Oil Exports: Economic and Security Implications
Overview
In July 2026, the CPC terminal at Novorossiysk, a critical hub handling about 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports, was hit by a series of disruptive drone attacks. The CPC described these incidents as terrorist strikes, warning they endangered crew safety and posed serious environmental and industrial risks. These attacks came as European refiners increasingly relied on Kazakhstani oil via the CPC pipeline to replace Russian crude after the Ukraine invasion. In response, the CPC called on its member countries to condemn the attacks and develop measures to prevent future threats, highlighting the growing geopolitical tensions and the vulnerability of vital energy infrastructure.