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Indian refiners purchase more United States crude as Russia sanctions tighten up

More than 250,000 barrels daily of U.S. crude is set to get here in India next month, the greatest in more than a year, ship tracking information showed, in the middle of tighter enforcement of sanctions on Russian crude.

India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and customer, is seeking to diversify its oil supplies as fresh U.S. sanctions on Moscow threaten to dent Russian oil sales to India, the biggest purchaser of Russian seaborne crude.

About 7.6 million barrels of oil, or 256,000 barrels per day ( bpd), were headed to India on 3 large unrefined providers and 3 Suezmax vessels, according to ship tracking firm Kpler.

The ships, which were mainly headed to India's west coast, were chartered by Dependence Industries, Vitol , Equinor and Sinokor, among others, according to data from monetary firm LSEG.

India was the top buyer of Russian oil last year after other groups pulled away from purchases following Western sanctions on Moscow for its intrusion on Ukraine in February 2022.

Last month, the U.S. tightened efforts to decrease Russia's. oil trade including sanctions on state-owned shipping firm. Sovcomflot and 14 petroleum tankers associated with Russian oil. transport.

India's Reliance, operator of the world's biggest refining. complex, will not purchase Russian oil loaded on tankers operated by. Sovcomflot after current U.S. sanctions, sources told . last week.

More Indian refiners plan to avoid Sovcomflot vessels, which. might weigh on imports of Russian oil and leave Russia with fewer. outlets for its flagship product, sources stated.

(source: Reuters)