Russian Oil Loadings to India Fall 66%: Half of Tankers Sailing Without Destination as US Sanctions Bite

New Delhi: India’s crude oil imports from Russia have taken a sharp hit this month, plunging by nearly 66%, as fresh US sanctions on Moscow’s two biggest oil companies—Rosneft and Lukoil—rattle global supply routes. India, Russia’s largest crude buyer, has scaled back orders amid tightening compliance risks, while China and Turkey have also cut purchases significantly.

According to data shared by analytics firm Kpler, India received an average of 672,000 barrels per day of Russian crude between November 1 and 17 — a steep drop from 1.88 million barrels per day in October. Since Russian shipments take nearly a month to reach Indian ports, most of November’s loadings will only arrive in December.

Tankers Sailing Without a Set Destination

The sanctions deadline of November 21 has pushed Indian refiners to reduce fresh bookings. At the same time, they are accelerating deliveries of previously contracted cargo, pushing early-November imports slightly higher than usual.

Overall, Russia’s crude loadings in November are down 28%, dropping to 2.78 million barrels per day. In a striking development, nearly half of the vessels loaded with Russian oil are sailing without a declared destination — signalling that exporters are scrambling to find buyers and navigate around sanctions.

China’s intake of Russian crude has fallen 47% to 624,000 barrels per day, while Turkey’s imports have collapsed by 87%, leaving it with only 43,000 barrels per day.

Shift in Oil Routes, Ship-to-Ship Transfers Near Mumbai

Kpler’s lead analyst Sumit Ritolia says tanker movements indicate a dramatic change in how Russian oil is being traded. Destinations are frequently being altered mid-voyage, and ship-to-ship (STS) transfers are happening in unusual locations — including off the coast of Mumbai, far from the usual hubs such as the Singapore Strait.

These unusual logistical maneuvers reflect attempts by Russian exporters to bypass Western restrictions and continue supplying key Asian markets.

Expect a Steeper Decline in December–January

Ritolia warns that India’s supplies could drop sharply in the coming months. The US sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, which together export nearly 3 million barrels per day, have hit the market hard. Roughly one-third of their shipments usually go to India.

Adding to the pressure, the US has imposed a 25% additional tariff on India’s purchases of Russian crude — making procurement even more complicated.

As a result, analysts predict a prolonged slowdown in shipments to India, China, and Turkey — countries that account for almost 90% of Russia’s crude exports.