Russia to export fuel to Iran by rail   

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Russia started to export fuel to Iran by rail this year for the first time after traditional buyers shunned trade with Moscow, Reuters said on Wednesday.

In February and March Russia supplied up to 30,000 tons of fuel to Iran, two sources familiar with the export data told Reuters.

A third source confirmed the trade but was not able to confirm the volumes.

The oil ministries of Russia and Iran did not reply to requests for comment, Reuters added.

Last autumn Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced the start of swap supplies of oil products with Iran, but actual shipments only started this year, Reuters cited the sources saying.

All the volumes were supplied by rail from Russia via Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. One of the sources said that some gasoline cargoes were sent on from Iran to neighbouring states, including Iraq, by truck.

However the rail exports face bottlenecks along the route, the sources said.

“We expect fuel supplies to Iran to rise this year, but we already see several issues with logistics due to rail congestion. That may keep exports from booming,” one of the sources familiar with supplies to Iran said.

Reporting by John Ahmad