Germany’s kerosene supply strained as Druzhba pipeline halt leaves Schwedt short of crude
Germany’s kerosene supply strained after Russia halted the Druzhba pipeline; Schwedt refinery lacks about 20% crude. Berlin seeks new deliveries via Gdańsk port to avert wider flight disruptions.
Germany’s kerosene supply was sharply disrupted on May 11, 2026, after Russia’s stoppage of the Druzhba pipeline reduced crude flows to the PCK refinery in Schwedt, officials said. The refinery currently reports roughly a one-fifth shortfall of feedstock used to produce jet fuel, forcing immediate contingency planning by government and industry. Transport operators and airlines are watching the situation closely as supply tightens and market prices respond.
Shortfall at Schwedt refinery
The PCK refinery in Schwedt, a key supplier for airports in Berlin and northern Germany, is operating with a marked reduction in available crude oil. Company and government sources place the deficit at about 20 percent of the refinery’s normal feedstock for producing aviation fuels. That shortfall directly constrains kerosene output at a facility that routinely supplies major flight corridors.
Refinery managers and regional officials have described the gap as manageable in the short term but risky if the pipeline interruption persists. Stocks can temporarily mitigate immediate shortages, but prolonged disruption would require either rapid new imports or deeper cuts to refinery throughput and product allocations.
Russia’s pipeline stoppage and regional routing
The disruption stems from a halt in deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline, which previously conveyed crude from Kazakhstan and other producing regions through Russia into northeastern Germany. The cessation began in early May 2026 and quickly altered cross-border oil flows toward European refineries. Energy analysts say the timing and scale underscore how dependent parts of Germany remain on a single transit route for certain crude grades.
The pipeline stoppage has also highlighted the vulnerability of integrated supply chains that link upstream producers, transit countries and refining centres. With Druzhba offline, options to reroute crude require tanker shipments, different crude grades, or logistical adjustments at refineries, each of which carries time and cost penalties.
Airlines and market responses
Airlines operating out of affected airports have already started adjusting capacity in response to tighter kerosene availability and rising jet-fuel prices. Some carriers have reduced frequencies on marginal routes and increased fuel conservancy measures to stretch available stocks. Market indicators for jet fuel showed upward pressure as traders priced in reduced supply and heightened delivery risk.
Industry representatives caution that immediate flight cancellations are not yet widespread, but the situation remains fluid. Prolonged supply constraints would force more substantial network changes and could raise airfares on routes where fuel represents a significant share of operating costs.
Government intervention and alternative routes
On May 11, Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche visited the PCK facility in Schwedt and signalled active talks with neighbouring Poland to open seaborne delivery lines. Officials in Berlin have been in discussions about routing replacement crude through the Baltic port of Gdańsk, enabling tanker deliveries that bypass the blocked pipeline corridor. Those arrangements, ministerial aides say, are designed to shore up supply while longer diplomatic or commercial solutions are explored.
Shifting crude to seaborne imports through ports such as Gdańsk would require coordination on storage, refining compatibility and transport logistics. German authorities are also coordinating with refinery operators to prioritise jet-fuel production where possible and to tap strategic reserves if necessary.
Costs and limits of alternative supplies
Sourcing replacement crude by tanker or changing refinery feedstocks carries immediate cost implications. Seaborne shipments typically command higher freight and insurance costs, and different crude grades can require process adjustments that reduce refinery yields of kerosene. Analysts warn that while alternatives exist, they are more expensive and slower to deploy than pipeline deliveries.
The price signal may spur sharper demand-management measures from airlines and freight operators. At the same time, refiners face a balancing act between producing aviation fuels, diesel and other petroleum products that are critical for domestic markets.
Implications for longer-term energy strategy
The episode is renewing debate in Berlin about reducing dependence on single transit routes and on fossil fuel imports more broadly. Policymakers and energy planners are pointing to accelerated investment in sustainable aviation fuels, electrification of short-haul services where feasible, and greater diversification of crude supply chains. Those measures, however, require sustained policy support and infrastructure development and will not alleviate an acute shortage in the coming weeks.
Industry stakeholders say resilience will require a mix of near-term tactical measures and long-term structural change to feedstocks, refining capacity and transport logistics. The Schwedt disruption is likely to be used as a case study in resilience planning for critical fuel supplies across Europe.
The situation in Germany remains dynamic: authorities continue to pursue deliveries via Gdańsk and other ports, while refining and aviation sectors adjust operations to limit immediate impacts on passengers and freight.
