Russian companies, in the context of Western sanctions, are bypassing restrictions by using the Indonesian port of Karimun for the transshipment of oil and petroleum products.
This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service.
It is noted that Moscow, in response to sanctions, is seeking alternative routes for the export of oil and petroleum products. By 2025, the Indonesian port of Karimun became the largest transshipment point for Russian oil.
Furthermore, the terminal’s operations are not controlled by the Indonesian authorities – it is located in a free trade zone and outside the country’s jurisdiction, intelligence sources explained.
Transshipment through Karimun allows Russian companies to bypass sanctions. At the port, Russian oil products are mixed with those from other countries of origin. Afterward, the energy products are considered Indonesian, and Western sanctions are not applied to them. Subsequently, the petroleum products are re-exported to Singapore, Malaysia, and China, the report states.
Since the beginning of 2025, 590,000 tons of fuel oil have been exported through Karimun from the Ust-Luga port (Russia) (about 100,000 tons in January-March 2024). Additionally, in 2025, for the first time, about 217,000 tons of diesel, 50,000 tons of oil, and 217,000 tons of diesel fuel were shipped from the port.
Between March and April 2025, at least three shipments arrived at Karimun on tankers that are under EU and UK sanctions. The intermediaries in the trade of sanctioned goods are little-known trading firms that often change their names before reaching the final destinations.
