Russia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Bangladesh are some of the countries that are keen on rupee trade with India
India's import of crude oil from Russia increased further in December 2022, topping 1 million barrels per day for the first time ever as Moscow remained its top oil supper for the third month in a row, according to data from energy cargo tracker Vortexa. Russia, which made up for just 0.2 per cent of all crude oil India imported in the year to March 31, 2022, supplied 1.19 million bpd in December. This was higher than 909,403 bpd crude oil India imported from Russia in November and 935,556 bpd in October 2022. The previous record for most crude oil imports from Russia was in June 2022 when India bought 942,694 bpd, according to Vortexa. Russia, which in October 2022 for the first time surpassed traditional sellers Iraq and Saudi Arabia to take the No.1 spot, now makes up for 25 per cent of all oil imported by India. The imports peaked as a price cap was agreed upon by the EU on Russian seaborne oil. Russian oil is available at much lower than USD 60 per barrel cap agreed, industry
Such transactions kicked off a week ago and are gradually expected to pick up pace amid the government's efforts towards ironing out the teething troubles related to the implementation
Two leaders reviewed bilateral ties in energy, trade and defence
The USD 858 billion defence bill passed by the US Senate seeks to strengthen defence ties with India, including supporting efforts to reduce India's reliance on Russian-built military equipment and funds billions of dollars to take measures to address the challenges posed to America's national security by China. The National Defence Authorisation Act, known as the NDAA, was approved by the Senate with 83-11 votes on Thursday. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives with 350-80 votes on December 8. Now it heads to the White House for President Joe Biden to sign it into law. As passed by the House and the Senate, the NDAA seeks to strengthen US-India relations by directing the Departments of Defence and State to pursue greater engagement and expanded cooperation with India related to emerging technology, joint Research and development, defence and cyber capabilities, and other opportunities for collaboration including for reducing India's reliance on Russian-built defence
India's oil imports from Russia rose for the fifth straight month, totaling 908,000 barrels per day (bpd) in November, up 4% from October, the data showed
India mostly buys the Urals crude from Russia. This grade made up 80% of India's oil imports last month
Five to six banks have been allowed to open Vostro accounts for rupee trade settlement and 10-11 such accounts have been opened so far
Russia has for the second month in a row remained India's top oil supplier in November, surpassing traditional sellers Iraq and Saudi Arabia, according to data from energy cargo tracker Vortexa. Russia, which made up for just 0.2 per cent of all oil imported by India in the year to March 31, 2022, supplied 9,09,403 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil to India in November. It now makes up for more than a fifth of India's oil supplies. According to Vortexa, an energy intelligence firm, India imported 8,61,461 bpd of oil from Iraq in November and 5,70,922 bpd from Saudi Arabia. The United States was India's fourth largest supplier at 4,05,525 bpd. India's imports from Russia in November were lower than the volumes bought in October. India's appetite for Russian oil swelled ever since it started trading on discount as the West shunned it to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. As per Vortexa, India imported just 36,255 barrels per day of crude oil from Russia in December 2021, .
It would mark only the second time the leaders of India and Russia haven't met face to face since 2000, when the relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership
Moscow had sent India a list of more than 500 products for potential delivery
A record 24.8 percent of India's crude oil imports came from Russia in the April-September period
India imported about 410,000 tonnes of naphtha, used for making petrochemicals, in Sept-Oct, the Refinitiv data showed
India's finished steel imports from Russia during April-October rose to their highest in at least four years, government data showed
At the same time, shipments of the grade to Europe, which was previously the largest consumer of seaborne Urals, in November amounted to slightly less than a quarter
The surge in Russian supplies halved China's exports to India to 1.78 million tonnes in the first half of 2022/23
"I have no anxiety on that. Market forces will deal with that. We will act according to the situation," Puri said on being asked about the proposed cap on Russian crude
Chinese refiners have already begun slowing down Russian oil imports from next month
Next round of India-UK FTA talks expected in Dec: Commerce secy
There is a view here that sanctions war unleashed by the West against Russia in the wake of the Ukraine conflict has, notwithstanding the risks, opened new opportunities for collaborations