India returns to Russian oil

After sanctions imposed by U.S. president Donald Trump forced Delhi to reduce oil purchases in Russia, the ongoing war between the combined forces of Israel and the United States and Iran disrupted supplies from the Persian Gulf and made India again curious in Russian natural materials.

According to Bloomberg's agency report, 2 Russian oil cargoes, originally destined for East Asia, have already been diverted to India.

These are 2 tankers carrying a full of around 1.4 million barrels of Urals oil to be unloaded in Indian ports in the next fewer days – according to Kpler's observation, a platform to analyse global maritime transport.

Another ship flying the flag of Sierra Leone, Suezmax Odune, loaded with 730 1000 barrels of Russian oil already arrived at Paradip on Wednesday on the east coast of India, although it is not known if it has already been unloaded.

India is heavy dependent on imports of oil from the Persian Gulf, and around 40–50% of their oil, or about 2.5–2.7 million barrels per day, is transported by the Ormuz Strait from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United arabian Emirates and Kuwait.

This narrow sea crossing besides supports almost all Indian imports of liquefied natural gas (LPG), covering around 80-85% of demand, which makes the disruption caused by the ongoing war peculiarly risky for India.

According to government sources referred to in the Times of India, India has reserves of oil for 25 days and on the back of refined petroleum products specified as petrol and diesel.

AB, PAP