Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft has resumed deliveries to the Baltic Sea port of Primorsk after ice conditions improved, a company spokesman told Reuters on Monday.
The Russian part of the Baltic Sea was shut last week for transportation, and scores of oil tankers were stranded in thick ice, cutting supplies to world commodity markets already affected by a popular uprising in the Arab world.
"The flows were resumed on Friday evening to Primorsk. We increased loadings to three tankers a day from two as it had been the case normally," spokesman Igor Dyomin said.
Primorsk usually handles two tankers daily with 100,000 tonnes capacity each.
Earlier on Friday, Transneft said it had redirected oil deliveries to the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk from Primorsk due to thick ice in the Baltic Sea port.
Cargoes of fuel oil and other products remained frozen on Monday, prolonging delays and forcing traders to reorganise delivery schedules as the outlook for the week remained unclear.
"We have at least been able to handle and re-plan for the delays we have had. Problems yes, but solving them at least, so far," said a fuel oil trader.
Sources in ports said on Monday around 20 tankers, including at least 14 with cargoes, were stuck in ice.
They said all available ice-breakers had been moved to Primorsk from the port of Vysotsk.
"Weather conditions are getting a bit better on Monday's morning. There is no wind. Ice is thinner and easier to break," said Andrey Markelov, a state authority spokesman for the St Petersburg port.
The Russian part of the Baltic Sea was shut last week for transportation, and scores of oil tankers were stranded in thick ice, cutting supplies to world commodity markets already affected by a popular uprising in the Arab world.
"The flows were resumed on Friday evening to Primorsk. We increased loadings to three tankers a day from two as it had been the case normally," spokesman Igor Dyomin said.
Primorsk usually handles two tankers daily with 100,000 tonnes capacity each.
Earlier on Friday, Transneft said it had redirected oil deliveries to the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk from Primorsk due to thick ice in the Baltic Sea port.
Cargoes of fuel oil and other products remained frozen on Monday, prolonging delays and forcing traders to reorganise delivery schedules as the outlook for the week remained unclear.
"We have at least been able to handle and re-plan for the delays we have had. Problems yes, but solving them at least, so far," said a fuel oil trader.
Sources in ports said on Monday around 20 tankers, including at least 14 with cargoes, were stuck in ice.
They said all available ice-breakers had been moved to Primorsk from the port of Vysotsk.
"Weather conditions are getting a bit better on Monday's morning. There is no wind. Ice is thinner and easier to break," said Andrey Markelov, a state authority spokesman for the St Petersburg port.