Russian tankers carrying Urals crude are shifting course toward India in significant numbers. According to vessel-tracking data from Kpler and Vortexa, at least two large shipments originally destined for East Asia are now heading to Indian ports. This shift suggests that New Delhi is prepared to ignore pressure from Washington and resume active purchases of Russian raw materials amid the escalating Middle East conflict and the looming threat of resource shortages.
As reported by Bloomberg, India expects to offload approximately 1.4 million barrels of oil this week. The Suezmax tanker Odune has already arrived at the port of Paradip on the east coast, while the Aframax vessel Matari is scheduled to reach Vadinar on Thursday. Another tanker, the Indri, performed a sharp U-turn in the Arabian Sea; instead of proceeding to Singapore, it is now moving north toward the Indian coast.
Indian refiners, who had previously scaled back imports from the Russian Federation to avoid complicating trade negotiations with the United States, are being forced to alter their strategy. The practical closure of the Strait of Hormuz and regional instability are compelling South Asian plants to return to reliable Russian barrels. Notably, all three mentioned vessels are under sanctions by the UK and the European Union, while their management companies based in Azerbaijan and Hong Kong have so far declined to comment.