Mixing Russian oil with other oil lets sellers avoid calling it Russian
The mixtures get cocktail names like Latvian blend, and firms caught using them have quickly backed down.
Odd Lots · Javier Blas Explains How Commodity Trading Shops Really WorkRussian oil can stop being called Russian if it is mixed with enough oil from elsewhere. If just over half of a barrel comes from somewhere else, some firms treat the whole cargo as non-Russian, says Javier Blas, who has covered commodity markets for years and written a book on their history.
The mixture is then sold under a cocktail style name like Latvian blend, which lets sellers avoid using the word Russian at all. Blas likens the practice to mixing coffee or cocktails, where oils from different sources are blended together.
Many companies now refuse even legal Russian deals because of public pressure. Firms caught using these blends have quickly backed down after being named and shamed.
Questions people ask
Does Latvian blend mean the oil came from Latvia?
No. The name describes the blend, not the field where the oil was pumped. It can refer to where the oil was mixed or loaded, or it can simply be a convenient label that avoids the word Russian.
Is selling such a blend illegal?
Not necessarily. Blas describes firms treating oil as non-Russian when most of it comes from elsewhere, even if part is Russian. Whether that violates sanctions depends on the specific sanctions, contracts, and company policies, which is why many firms now avoid the trade entirely.
Why would a company refuse a deal that is legal?
Because customers, lenders, and the public may punish them anyway. In an era of fast social media pressure, being linked to Russian oil can bring boycotts, bad press, and lost business that outweigh the profit from one cargo.