Kazakhstan's state-owned oil company, KazMunayGas, sends its initial oil shipment to Hungary via Croatia.
Kazakhstan has taken a significant step in diversifying its oil export routes to European Union markets, with the first shipment of 85,000 tons of crude oil delivered to Hungary's Százhalombatta refinery in August 2025. This strategic move marks a departure from the traditional Druzhba pipeline route, which supplies oil to Germany, and includes a preliminary arrangement to supply Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline in parallel.
The sea-to-pipeline export route via Croatia, involving Hungary's MOL Group and Croatian companies, enhances Kazakhstan's logistical flexibility and reduces dependency on Eastern transit corridors. The crude oil was transported from the Russian port of Novorossiysk to the Croatian port of Omišalj aboard the KazMunayGas (KMG) subsidiary Kazmortransflot's tanker Alatau. From Omišalj, the oil continued via the Adriatic pipeline (JANAF), operated by Croatian state-owned Jadranski naftovod, to Hungary.
This shipment is a testament to a Framework Agreement signed by KMG, MOL Group, and JANAF, indicating plans for expanded future deliveries of Kazakh crude oil to Central and Eastern Europe. MOL Group, which operates three oil refineries and two petrochemical plants across Hungary, Slovakia, and Croatia, has been active in Kazakhstan for over 20 years.
In addition to this maritime-export-based route, Kazakhstan is also considering boosting pipeline exports through alternatives like the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. These diversification efforts are prompted by recent Russian restrictions on foreign oil tanker access at Black Sea ports, which create uncertainties for Kazakhstan’s traditional oil transit options.
This initiative exemplifies Kazakhstan's evolving strategy to strengthen its role as a reliable energy supplier to the European Union by leveraging partnerships with Hungarian and Croatian companies and diversifying export routes. The meeting between representatives from KMG, MOL Group, and JANAF upon the tanker's arrival in Croatia underscores the commitment of all parties to deepen energy integration between Kazakhstan and European markets.
[1] Kazakhstan delivers first oil shipment to Hungary via Croatia [2] Kazakhstan boosts oil exports to Europe via Croatia [3] Kazakhstan expands oil export routes to EU through new partnership [4] Kazakhstan’s oil exports to Europe via Croatia: A new route emerges [5] Kazakhstan looks to BTC pipeline as it diversifies oil exports
[1] Kazakhstan strengthens partnership with Hungarian and Croatian companies for expanded oil exports to Central and Eastern Europe.
[2] Amidst Russian restrictions, Kazakhstan diversifies its oil export routes, including the use of the Adriatic pipeline and sea-to-pipeline transport via Croatia.
