India's March oil imports rise 67% from US, 11% from Russia

Indian oil refiners imported two-thirds more US crude in March than in February amid US President Donald Trump's efforts to boost American energy exports. The sanctions Trump imposed on Russia in January had little effect on imports, which rose by 11%.

- BY S VENKAT NARAYAN Our Special Correspondent

India imported 244,000 barrels per day (bpd) of US crude in March, up from 146,000 bpd in February, according to energy cargo tracker Vortexa. Imports of Russian crude rose by 11% month-on-month in March to 1.66 million barrels per day (mbd).

This was contrary to wider expectations and initial tanker loading trends, as Russia and traders found ways to circumvent US sanctions and deliver cargoes to Indian ports.

Trump has threatened to make trade in Russian oil more difficult if Moscow does not agree to a deal to end the Ukraine war. He stated on Sunday that he would impose secondary taris of 25-50% on all oil coming out of Russia, and that buyers would be banned from doing business in the US.