India purchases of Russian crude rise to a record high in June, even as Russia’s broader oil revenues slip, according to reports citing data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). India buys Russian crude worth about EUR 4.5 billion in June, which represents 83% of India’s total Russian fossil fuel imports of about EUR 5.5 billion. The purchases make India the second-largest buyer of Russian hydrocarbons after China.
Multiple outlets report that India’s Russian crude imports increase 34% month-on-month from May. They also note that India’s overall crude imports grow 5.4% month-on-month during the same period. The stronger Russian supply to Indian refineries is reflected in large month-on-month jumps in deliveries reported for key facilities, including Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery and Indian Oil Corp’s Paradip refinery, among others. The surge in Indian buying occurs alongside a reported decline in Moscow’s oil export revenues.