Navigating Sanctions: Ruble Transaction and Energy Settlements
The inclusion of Gazprombank in the sanctions list has introduced significant challenges to payment transactions, particularly those involving the Russian ruble. Due to the necessity of involving Russian correspondent banks, ruble settlements now carry considerable risks. Most Russian banks being under sanctions exacerbates these complications, rendering ruble transactions a sensitive and largely opaque area.
Here are 4 key observations:
1. Ruble Settlements and Sanctions Risk: Any acknowledgment of ruble transactions could be interpreted as a sanctions violation. As a result, the focus has shifted toward preserving settlements in Western currencies or those of "friendly" countries. These funds eventually enter Russia through intricate and less transparent financial circuits.
2. Offshore Ruble Market Feasibility: The creation of an offshore ruble market appears unlikely at this stage. Companies operating internationally often receive payments in dollars or euros but face challenges converting these into rubles for domestic operations. This reliance underscores the fragility of the existing external financial circuit.
3. Corporate Adaptation Examples:
Lukoil: This energy giant uses accounts in Middle Eastern banks to receive foreign currencies. While these transactions provide temporary access to rubles, they remain exceptional rather than standard practice.
Rosneft: The company has restructured its oil sales strategy. By using subsidiaries in India to refine crude and sell petroleum products, Rosneft creates a less transparent financial flow. Although high oil prices currently mitigate risks, a potential decline in prices could expose vulnerabilities in this approach.
4. Fragmentation of Settlement Schemes: As old financial pathways are dismantled, companies are left to develop individualized settlement and supply chain models. This fragmented landscape reflects the absence of a unified solution, with each entity navigating unique challenges.
Outlook:
The ongoing evolution of financial and supply chain structures will require adaptability from both companies and financial institutions. High energy prices provide temporary relief, but sustained stability will depend on the development of resilient, transparent systems that can withstand potential downturns. While a unified framework seems improbable in the near term, understanding and anticipating these shifts will be critical for stakeholders operating within and outside Russia.
LKOH
ROSN
Here are 4 key observations:
1. Ruble Settlements and Sanctions Risk: Any acknowledgment of ruble transactions could be interpreted as a sanctions violation. As a result, the focus has shifted toward preserving settlements in Western currencies or those of "friendly" countries. These funds eventually enter Russia through intricate and less transparent financial circuits.
2. Offshore Ruble Market Feasibility: The creation of an offshore ruble market appears unlikely at this stage. Companies operating internationally often receive payments in dollars or euros but face challenges converting these into rubles for domestic operations. This reliance underscores the fragility of the existing external financial circuit.
3. Corporate Adaptation Examples:
Lukoil: This energy giant uses accounts in Middle Eastern banks to receive foreign currencies. While these transactions provide temporary access to rubles, they remain exceptional rather than standard practice.
Rosneft: The company has restructured its oil sales strategy. By using subsidiaries in India to refine crude and sell petroleum products, Rosneft creates a less transparent financial flow. Although high oil prices currently mitigate risks, a potential decline in prices could expose vulnerabilities in this approach.
4. Fragmentation of Settlement Schemes: As old financial pathways are dismantled, companies are left to develop individualized settlement and supply chain models. This fragmented landscape reflects the absence of a unified solution, with each entity navigating unique challenges.
Outlook:
The ongoing evolution of financial and supply chain structures will require adaptability from both companies and financial institutions. High energy prices provide temporary relief, but sustained stability will depend on the development of resilient, transparent systems that can withstand potential downturns. While a unified framework seems improbable in the near term, understanding and anticipating these shifts will be critical for stakeholders operating within and outside Russia.
LKOH ROSN 
CEO Mind-Money.eu
👉 mind-money.eu
Personal website of Julia Khandoshko:
👉 iuliia-khandoshko.com/
👉 mind-money.eu
Personal website of Julia Khandoshko:
👉 iuliia-khandoshko.com/
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