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Indian refiners hire tankers to move crude through Hormuz

2026-10-01 · 2 sources · Business Standard Companies

In short

Indian oil refiners are hiring tankers to collect crude inside the Persian Gulf instead of relying on Gulf producers and traders to ship it. They want to lower costs and keep supply lines safer.

The move comes as Iraqi crude sales are now on a free-on-board basis and oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have recovered. The report does not name the refiners.

What the reporting says

Indian oil refiners are changing tactics and hiring tankers to pick up crude oil within the Persian Gulf. The reporting says they want to cut the premium paid for cost-and-freight shipments, reduce logistics costs, and secure supply chains as geopolitical conditions change. It also notes recent Iraqi crude sales on a free-on-board basis and the recovery of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, but it does not identify which refiners are involved.

Why it matters

Indian oil refiners are hiring tankers to pick up crude oil within the Persian Gulf, rather than relying on Gulf producers and traders to transport it through Hormuz. The change is meant to reduce freight premiums, cut logistics costs, and secure supply chains amid shifting geopolitical conditions. The reporting also points to Iraqi crude sold on a free-on-board basis and recovered flows through Hormuz, but it does not name specific refiners or quantify savings.

Touches: Energy, Oil, Companies, Commodities, Global

Sources