Crude trading patterns change: the first half of the year has brought major changes to Russia's crude export landscape. TNK-BP is emerging as the country's biggest pipeline exporter, and Rosneft has supplanted Yukos, particularly on the Druzhba market. Meanwhile, overall pipeline exports have risen sharply thanks to expansion of Russia's Primorsk terminal.(Exports)(Industry Overview)

TNK-BP became the leading exporter of crude by pipeline to non-CIS destinations in the first half of this year, overtaking former leaders Yukos and Lukoil. The company shipped 660,000 b/d of crude through the Transneft pipeline system, an increase of a fifth on the same period last year.

The hike was mainly accounted for by increased shipments to Druzhba destinations, which rose by 155pc to 178,000 b/d. TNK-BP used the halt of Yukos' exports to launch crude shipments to Slovakia, and it retained its position as the major exporter to the Czech Republic. It also boosted shipments along the northern leg of Druzhba to Poland and Germany.

TNK-BP remains the leading pipeline shipper from Black Sea ports, accounting for about 20pc of total volumes. But its overall share of seaborne exports declined. Deliveries of 260,000 b/d to Black Sea ports in the first half of the year were down by 10pc on the same period last year.

The company has overtaken Lukoil as the leading shipper to Baltic ports. Deliveries averaged 222,000 b/d in the first half of the year, up by 15.7pc on the same period last year thanks to increased shipments from Primorsk. But this increase was below the overall rise of 22.6pc in shipments to Black Sea ports by pipeline.

TNK-BP's exports look set to rise further from …