en.Wedoany.com Reported - Russia's oil processing volume fell to its lowest level in recent years in June, averaging just 4.1 million barrels per day. However, industry forecasts indicate a potential rebound of 7% to 22% in the third quarter (July to September), pushing processing volumes back to a range of 4.4 million to 5 million barrels per day.

According to analysis data from Kpler cited by Kommersant, while processing volumes are expected to grow in the third quarter, overall output will still remain below average, primarily due to ongoing maintenance and repair work at refineries. Another source from the newspaper holds a more pessimistic view, suggesting that July processing volumes will struggle to exceed the 4 million barrels per day mark, and warning that unscheduled repairs could further worsen the situation.

Dmitry Kasatkin, Managing Partner of consulting firm Kasatkin Consulting, analyzed that the weighted average utilization rate of Russian refineries in June dropped from the usual 82% to 84% down to 64% to 65%, mainly due to a simultaneous decline in primary and secondary refining capacity. Kasatkin expects the utilization rate to partially recover to around 74% to 75% in July, and potentially exceed 80% in August. However, he emphasized that market safety margins will remain low, and gasoline inventories will fall below the market's comfortable range. If refining capacity recovery is delayed by one to two months and new processing restrictions are introduced, the industry's difficulties could persist into September.