On Wednesday, after 12:00 p.m., Ukraine resumed oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline, according to a source close to the Ukrainian government who spoke to the online portal “Energoreforma.”
“At 12:35 p.m., oil transit was launched. Pumping has begun,” said the source speaking to “Energoreforma.”
He has not yet specified the volume of the transit.
As reported with reference to Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Saková, the resumption of supplies via the Druzhba pipeline to that country is expected on Thursday morning.
Hungary and Slovakia have not received Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline since January 27 of this year due to damage to the pipeline caused by Russian shelling. Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that he would not lift his veto on the €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine until oil supplies are restored.
Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party, which won the elections in Hungary, called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to ensure the Druzhba pipeline is restored as soon as possible.
The day before, the Kremlin stated that Russia is technically ready to resume transit through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary.
Hungarian MOL announced on Wednesday, April 22, that the state-owned JSC “Ukrtransnafta,” responsible for operating the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba pipeline, had officially notified it of the completion of repair work on the Druzhba pipeline, as well as the termination of the force majeure circumstances that had been in effect since January 27, 2026.
Kernel, one of Ukraine’s largest agricultural holdings, increased oilseed processing by 17% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 (FY, January–March 2026) compared to the same period last year—to 986,000 tons, the company reported in its operating report.
“Kernel processed 986,000 tons of oilseeds during January–March 2026, which is 17% more than in the previous year, thanks to improved availability and procurement of sunflower seeds on the domestic market, while remaining generally stable compared to the previous quarter. Sunflower seeds accounted for the majority of the processing volume, while soybeans and rapeseed contributed to the overall utilization at the group’s oil processing plants,” the document states.
According to the report, sales of edible oil during the reporting period increased by 7% and reached 373,000 tons, which correlates with processing trends. Bottled sunflower oil accounted for 19,000 tons of total sales.
The volume of grain stored in elevators (silos) in January–March amounted to 511,000 tons. According to the agricultural holding, this result reflects the protracted harvest campaign in Ukraine, as well as an increase in the volume of products received from third-party suppliers. Cumulatively, over the first nine months of the 2026 financial year, this figure reached 4 million tons.
Kernel emphasized that the 50% year-over-year growth in procurement is due to a change in crop structure: the share of corn in the 2025 harvest rose to 48% compared to 24% in the previous season.
Grain exports from Ukraine in the third quarter of the fiscal year totaled 1.5 million tons, effectively maintaining the level of the previous quarter. Restraining factors included slow sales by farmers, power shortages, and rising logistics costs.
At the same time, transshipment through the group’s export terminals increased by 4% compared to the previous fiscal year and by 6% compared to the previous quarter, reaching 2.6 million tons. Grain accounted for 73% of total cargo handling, oils for 14%, and meal for the remainder.
” “In total, terminal throughput for the first nine months of fiscal year 2026 amounted to 6.9 million tons, which is 6% less than in the previous year, amid operational disruptions caused by intensified attacks on Black Sea ports and adverse weather conditions,” the agricultural holding concluded.
Kernel Agricultural Holding is the world’s largest producer and exporter of sunflower oil, Ukraine’s largest grain exporter, an operator of an extensive network of logistics assets, and a leading producer of grains and oilseeds in Ukraine. It is one of the largest producers and sellers of bottled oil in Ukraine. It is engaged in the cultivation and sale of agricultural products.
According to Serbian Economist, the U.S. has granted Serbia’s oil company NIS a new 60-day exemption from sanctions, allowing it to continue its operations at least until mid-June. Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Jedović-Handanović, announced the license extension. This refers to an OFAC authorization that maintains NIS’s ability to import crude oil and reduces the risk of disruptions to the country’s oil refining infrastructure.
For Serbia, this decision has not only energy-related but also macroeconomic significance. NIS operates the country’s only oil refinery—in Pančevo—and therefore this latest license extension reduces risks for the domestic fuel market, logistics, and price stability.
Meanwhile, negotiations continue regarding the sale of Russia’s stake in NIS to Hungary’s MOL. According to Reuters, Washington has set a deadline of May 22 for the deal’s completion. Belgrade hopes that the change of government in Hungary will not derail the process, though a final agreement has not yet been formalized.
NIS’s ownership structure remains the key reason for sanctions pressure. According to the report, 45% of the company’s shares are owned by Gazprom Neft, another 11.3% are linked to Gazprom, while Serbia owns nearly 30%, with the remainder held by minority shareholders. It is precisely the withdrawal of Russian entities from NIS’s capital that the U.S. views as a condition for a sustainable resolution of the situation.
For the Serbian economy, the current delay means buying time, but not a final solution to the problem. Until the deal with MOL is closed, NIS and the country’s entire oil sector remain dependent on temporary licenses from Washington. This creates uncertainty for the energy market, the budget, and the investment climate, particularly regarding long-term planning for supplies and the modernization of refining.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2658
Rapeseed oil exports from Ukraine in July–February of the 2025/26 marketing year increased 2.2-fold compared to the same period last season, while foreign exchange earnings rose 2.7-fold, according to the Ukroliyaprom association.
The association also reported a sharp increase in the rapeseed meal segment. Over the first eight months of the season, exports of rapeseed meal increased 2.3-fold, while foreign exchange revenue rose by 85%.
Ukroliyaprom views this trend as evidence of the industry’s strategic shift from exporting raw materials to selling products with higher added value.
According to the association’s assessment, it was the increase in rapeseed processing, along with soybeans, that made it possible to offset the shortage of sunflower seeds and maintain oilseed processing plants’ capacity utilization at a stable level.
At the same time, the industry continues to operate under difficult conditions. Among the main risks, the association cites restrictions on energy supply, risks to exports via seaports, and the vulnerability of rail logistics.
Overall, oil and fat products remain one of the key items in Ukrainian exports. According to Ukroliyaprom, they account for 19.2% of total goods exports, or $7.737 billion.
According to Serbian Economist, the Hungarian government has designated the “Hungary–Serbia” oil pipeline and related infrastructure as a priority investment project, which is expected to speed up administrative procedures and construction work. Budapest views the project as part of a broader strategy to better coordinate the energy and fuel markets of Hungary, Serbia, and Slovakia. The Hungarian side believes this will enhance the resilience of regional energy supplies and reduce dependence on external risks.
Hungarian media reports state that the government’s goal is to bring the system into full operation in 2027 or 2028. The new route is intended to create an additional foundation for oil supplies to the region amid the continued vulnerability of existing supply lines.
The issue is particularly sensitive for the region following supply problems with the Druzhba pipeline, a section of which on Ukrainian territory was damaged in January. Against this backdrop, Budapest has in recent weeks linked energy security issues to broader regional policy.
For Serbia, accelerating the project is important both in terms of diversifying supply routes and in the context of ongoing uncertainty surrounding NIS and oil imports. The new pipeline could become one of the country’s key energy infrastructure projects.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2509
According to Bloomberg, U.S. administration officials are analyzing what a potential spike in oil prices to $200 per barrel would mean for the American economy. The publication’s source links this analysis to an assessment of extreme scenarios for the conflict in the Middle East.
Thus, the claim that the White House is testing its readiness for a $200-per-barrel oil scenario is generally confirmed by the Bloomberg report. However, this currently refers specifically to an internal stress scenario and an assessment of its consequences, rather than a publicly announced forecast or the U.S. administration’s official baseline scenario.
The sharp volatility in the oil market amid the war in the Persian Gulf region provided additional context for this assessment. Reuters reported that on March 24, Brent closed at $102.22 per barrel and WTI at $90.32, after which prices rose again on March 25: Brent climbed to $104.30 and WTI to $92.25.
The key risk for the market is linked to the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies pass. Reuters noted that disruptions in this corridor have already become the largest disruption to oil supplies, and further escalation in the Middle East remains the main factor that could push prices significantly higher than current levels.
At the same time, more cautious assessments are being voiced within the administration itself. As Reuters reported on March 12, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright called oil at $200 per barrel an unlikely scenario, though he acknowledged that authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
Amid rising prices, Washington has already deployed crisis-response tools. Reuters reported that the U.S. released 45.2 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to companies under a loan program, and earlier the administration also considered other measures to curb prices, including actions in the oil futures market and possible restrictions on fuel exports.
In other words, the information that the U.S. is preparing for an extreme scenario with oil at $200 per barrel is based on a Bloomberg report and fits into the broader context of steps Washington has already taken to mitigate energy risks. However, there is currently no official confirmation that this specific price level is considered the White House’s baseline expectation.
