Indian Firm Exported Refinery Catalysts to Russia from 2023 to 2025

Reliance Industries exported approximately 500,000 kilograms of fluid catalytic cracking catalysts to Russia in 31 shipments between April 2023 and January 2025. Trade data reviewed by Newsweek placed the total value at roughly $420,000. The shipments involved inputs used in oil refining.

Fluid catalytic cracking catalysts improve refinery efficiency.

Russia’s energy sector generates state revenue during its conflict with Ukraine. Western sanctions have aimed to limit that revenue. S. or European sanctions, according to the reporting. Sanctions regimes focus on specific entities and categories of goods rather than all industrial inputs. -origin components were identified in the transactions.

Russia published a list of 99 priority chemicals in 2025 under its New Materials and Chemistry project. Nine of those chemicals were catalysts related to oil refining. The government offered grants of up to 150 million rubles for critical chemical products.

5 million barrels of oil per day, though more than 30 percent of its refining capacity has been damaged during the war. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that catalysts represent a cross-cutting priority for the chemical industry.

Industries operates the Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Gujarat, India. 8 billion as of the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Reliance is not itself under sanctions. S. sanctions. It resumed purchases in February 2026 in a sanctions-compliant manner. Earlier reporting has documented continued trade between Russia and various international partners during the conflict.

U.S. sanctions and export controls restrict certain flows of goods to Russia. S. -origin inputs were involved. S. Treasury did not respond to requests for comment.