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Indian Oil replaces Russian crude with oil from Angola and Brazil as well as the United Arab Emirates, according to sources

Indian Oil Corp, the top refiner in the country, has purchased 7 million barrels from Petrobras and other suppliers for loading in March to replace Russian oil.

Indian refiners have re-calibrated their strategies in order to move away from Russia as the top supplier and increase imports from the Middle East. This could help New Delhi to clinch a deal with the United States for lower tariffs.

Sources said that the refiner purchased 2 million barrels Upper Zakum and 1 million barrels Murban from Shell. IOC also purchased 1 million barrels of each Angola Hungo and Clove grade from Exxon.

IOC also "bought" 2 million barrels of Brazil's Buzios crude oil from Petrobras, according to the sources. The contract is optional and allows for flexibility in negotiating a deal on mutually agreeable terms.

Prices were not available immediately.

Due to confidentiality agreements, oil buyers and sellers usually do not comment about such deals.

Trade data showed that India's Russian imports of oil fell to the lowest level for two years in December. Meanwhile, imports from OPEC countries rose 11 months.

India became the largest buyer of discounted Russian crude oil after the start of the Ukraine War in 2022. However, refiners in the country reduced their Russian oil purchases in October following harsher Western sanctions against Russia's leading producers.

IOC purchased Ecuadorean Oriente crude for the first and only time last month. It did this under an option supply agreement with Ecopetrol, the state oil company. (Reporting and editing by Jamie Freed; Siyi Liu, Nidhi Verma)

(source: Reuters)