The United States imported Russian oil for the first time since April 2022

РБК: In November 2023, the United States imported crude oil of Russian origin worth $749.5 thousand, according to the United States foreign trade statistics database. This happened for the first time since April 2022. The volume amounted to 9.86 thousand barrels.

The United States banned imports of oil, gas and other energy from Russia in March 2022 as part of sanctions over military action in Ukraine. However, such imports are possible under separate licenses from the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

In 2022, the US and other G7 countries, as well as the EU, Switzerland and Australia, introduced a price ceiling on Russian oil in an effort to reduce Russian revenues. Companies from these countries are prohibited from providing transport, insurance and financial services for Russian oil if it is sold at a price above the established limit of $60 per barrel. The ceiling on petroleum products is set depending on their type: at $100 per barrel for diesel and $45 per barrel for fuel oil, sold at a discount.

Moscow considers the sanctions illegal; in response, it refused to supply its oil to countries that joined the price ceiling. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak called the introduction of a price limit an ineffective tool, saying that end consumers suffer from it.

According to the forecast of the US Department of Energy, in the next two years the growth of global oil consumption will be lower than in 2023: 1.4 million barrels. per day (1.4%) and 1.2 million barrels. per day (1.2%) versus 1.9 million barrels. per day accordingly. The ministry expects that in 2024 the average price of Brent oil will be approximately the same as in the past - $82 per barrel, and in 2025 will drop to $79.