More than 250,000 barrels per day of US crude is set to arrive in India next month, the highest in more than a year, ship tracking data showed, amid tighter enforcement of sanctions on Russian crude.
India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, is looking to diversify its oil supplies as fresh US sanctions on Moscow threaten to dent Russian oil sales to India, the biggest buyer of Russian seaborne crude.
About 7.6 million barrels of oil, or 256,000 barrels per day (bpd), were headed to India on three very large crude carriers and three Suezmax vessels, according to ship tracking firm Kpler.
The ships, which were largely headed to India's west coast, were chartered by Reliance Industries, Vitol, Equinor, and Sinokor, among others, according to data from financial firm LSEG.
India was the top buyer of Russian oil last year after other groups retreated from purchases following Western sanctions on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Last month, the US tightened efforts to reduce Russia's oil trade adding sanctions on state-owned shipping firm Sovcomflot and 14 crude oil tankers involved in Russian oil transportation.
Reliance, operator of the world's biggest refining complex, will not buy Russian oil loaded on tankers operated by Sovcomflot after recent US sanctions, sources told Reuters last week.
More Indian refiners plan to shun Sovcomflot vessels, which may weigh on imports of Russian oil and leave Russia with fewer outlets for its flagship product, sources said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Trump Assassination Attempt: How Does It Change The US Campaign?
Reliance To Buy 3 Million Barrels Of Russian Oil A Month In Roubles: Report US Urges India To Maintain Implementation Of Russian Oil Price Cap Russia Says No Issues With Oil Payment From India INDIA's Bihar Ally Mukesh Sahani's Father Brutally Murdered At Home Meet Indian-Origin Usha Chilukuri Vance, Wife Of Trump's Vice President Pick "Regret To Inform...": Trainee IAS Officer's Disability Request Was Denied Man, 65, Who Quit Job, Drained Savings To Start Business, Now A Billionaire JD Vance, Once A Donald Trump Critic, Now His Vice President Pick: 5 Facts Patient Stuck In Kerala Hospital's Lift For 1.5 Days, 3 Staffers Suspended Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.