India’s refiners increase purchases of Russian crude to a record high in June, according to ship-tracking data compiled by LSEG and Kpler. Preliminary figures show Indian refiners receive about 2.70 million barrels per day (bpd) from Russia in June. The data also indicates lower Russian deliveries in May, with Kpler estimating 2.13 million bpd and LSEG at 1.95 million bpd. The reported jump is linked to disruptions affecting other crude supply routes, including uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz, which refiners seek to offset by buying more Russian barrels. The reports note that Russian oil has become a dominant part of India’s crude intake since 2022-23, with refiners attracted by discounts offered on Moscow-linked supplies. Despite the shift toward Russia, total crude imports for India are reported to be nearly flat at about 4.9 million bpd, with Russia remaining the largest supplier. Russian crude accounts for more than half of India’s overall imports in June, up from 36.5% in May, the data shows.