OREANDA-NEWS A Russian oil tanker, which was originally bound for China, changed course in the South China Sea and headed for India. This was reported by the Hindustan Times (HT).

According to him, we are talking about the Aqua Titan tanker (Aframax class), which is expected to arrive at the port of New Mangalore on March 21 with a cargo of Russian Urals crude oil. The ship loaded oil at a port on the Baltic Sea in late January and its original destination was the Chinese port of Rizhao. However, in mid-March, the ship abruptly changed course and headed towards India.

The publication referred to data from the Vortexa analytical company, according to which in recent weeks at least seven tankers carrying Russian oil have changed their destination, reorienting from China to India. It is noted that currently all the largest Indian refineries are actively trying to buy Russian oil.

According to Rajesh Agrawal, India's Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, the country increased its imports of Russian oil in March. This was achieved after the United States temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil.