Russia’s Ust-Luga LPG Exports Hit 27-Month Low in May on Drone, Mine Fears

The Russian port of Ust-Luga exported just one liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cargo in May, the lowest level since February 2024, data from shipping analytics provider Vortexa showed.

Market sources have expressed caution over loading from Ust-Luga, following a recent incident with mines, an analyst from Gibson Shipbroking indicated. The port exported 20,900 metric tons of propane on the penultimate day of May.

The Midsize Gas Carrier (MGC) Arrhenius had two mines attached to its hull when arriving back at Ust-Luga from Antwerp. Another sources also suggested drone strikes back in March could well be having an impact on flows out of the terminal.

Exports from the port have fallen for four consecutive months and May was also the third-lowest month for exports on record, Vortexa data showed.

The MGC Gas Pacific was the only LPG carrier to load at the port in May and is currently sat at anchor outside of the port with Vortexa indicating Tutinciftlik, Turkey as her destination.

Turkey plays a major role in the pulling tonnage out of the Russian Baltic. But Turkish LPG demand checked back in May, with imports falling to 258,000 mt, down from 349,000 mt in April. The sourcing of the product weighed heavily in favor of supply from Algeria, at 55.9%, with Saudi Arabian and U.S. volumes following at 18.3% and 9.2%, respectively.

Ust-Luga exported 870,000 mt of LPG in 2025, rising from 643,000 mt in 2024. The vast majority of volumes from the terminal were delivered into Turkish ports last year, 80.4% of total shipments, followed by India at 9.8% or 86,000 mt.

In the first five months of 2026, the port has shipped out 309,000 mt, 78.1% heading to Turkey with the remainder going to India. India has diversifed its supply portfolio this year as a result of the Middle East conflict, with Russian LPG one of its chosen providers.

Reporting by Jamie Aldridge, jaldridge@opisnet.com; Editing by Rob Sheridan, rsheridan@opisnet.com