Signal Desk · Economy

Indian refiners cut Russian oil buys as prices rise

2026-10-08 · 1 source · Economic Times Foreign Trade

In short

Indian refiners bought less Russian crude for November delivery as prices went up.

The report says China is also competing for supply, and imports from Russia fell to the lowest level since March 2022. It may push refiners back toward Middle Eastern oil, but exact volumes are not stated.

What the reporting says

Indian refiners reduced purchases of Russian crude for November delivery as prices rose, according to the publisher-supplied summary. Competition from China is said to be pushing prices higher, while imports from Russia fell to their lowest level since March 2022. The immediate consequence is a possible shift back toward Middle Eastern barrels, but the reporting does not state exact volumes or which refiners changed buying plans.

Why it matters

Indian refiners cut Russian crude purchases for November delivery as prices rose, and shipments from Russia fell to the lowest level since March 2022. The summary says competition from China helped lift prices and made Middle Eastern oil more attractive because of shipping efficiency. This could affect India’s import mix and oil trade flows, but the reporting does not quantify the shift or name the affected refiners.

Touches: Energy, Oil, Markets, Global

Sources