Indian oil imports from Iran surge to highest since 2016
ndia’s oil imports from Iran surged to about 705,000 barrels per day (bpd) in May, their highest level since October 2016, according to data from shipping and industry sources, despite the threats of fresh U.S. sanctions.
From June India’s oil imports from Iran could drop because at least two refiners — accounting for about 35 percent of Indian refining capacity of around 5 million bpd — are preparing to curb purchases under pressure from the U.S. sanctions.
On May 8 U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States was pulling out of a 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran and would impose new sanctions seeking to reduce the country’s oil shipments, Reuters reported.
India’s oil imports from Iran in May rose by 10.2 percent from the previous month and were about 45 percent more than a year ago, the data showed.
Iran’s oil exports hit 2.7 million bpd in May, Iranian news agency SHANA reported this month, representing a record high since the lifting of international sanctions on Tehran in 2016.
Indian state refiners had cut oil imports from Iran in the 2017/18 financial year because of a dispute over development rights for a giant gas field.
However, the refiners had drawn plans to raise imports in the current fiscal year from April after Iran agreed to steep shipping discounts.
India, the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, is Iran’s second-biggest customer behind China.
India’s oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan last week said the country has adopted a “wait and watch” policy pending clarity on the impact of U.S. sanctions.
Iran remained the third-biggest oil supplier to India last month behind Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the data showed, with the United Arab Emirates having replaced Venezuela as the fourth-biggest supplier.
Overall, India imported 4.34 million bpd in May, about 2.8 percent higher than a year ago.