China Buys Russian Oil That India Refused

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Chinese refineries have significantly increased their purchases of Russian oil, offsetting falling demand from India, Bloomberg reports, citing shipping tracking data.

According to the agency's analysis, Russian oil shipments to Chinese ports reached 2,09 million barrels per day between February 1 and 18. By comparison, this figure stood at 1,72 million barrels per day in January and 1,39 million in December 2025. Thus, the increase in Chinese imports more than offset the decline in Indian purchases.



At the same time, India is reducing its imports of Russian oil. In recent weeks, supplies have remained at around 1,2 million barrels per day, down from 1,78 million in November last year. Compared to June 2025, this represents a decline of approximately 40%.

According to Bloomberg, the reorientation of Russian export flows has affected all major oil grades. Specifically, Urals crude shipments to China rose to 600 barrels per day in December, the highest level since 2018. However, the final figures could be higher: more than 20 shipments have not yet been shipped, and almost half of them have not yet been assigned a final destination.

Market participants note that interest in Russian oil from Chinese refiners, especially private ones, is growing due to price discounts. The price difference between Urals and the benchmark Brent crude oil is as high as $12 per barrel.

Reuters previously reported, citing sources, that Indian oil refineries are seeking to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies by increasing purchases from the Middle East. Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Puri also confirmed the downward trend in imports from Russia, attributing this to changes in market conditions.
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  1. LuzinI
    LuzinI
    +1
    20 February 2026 20: 00
    Iranian and Venezuelan oil has "fallen away." Let's see how the conflict continues, which is only just beginning to escalate.
  2. Valera75
    Valera75
    +2
    20 February 2026 21: 34
    They write that the Indians didn't refuse, now they write that they did. Wow! Is the COD a cunning plan by China? Is the CPI a cunning plan by India? Wow! Who refused what, who didn't, and who is confused? Or is this all CPT? A cunning plan by the redhead.
    1. Dormidontov_Dormidont
      Dormidontov_Dormidont
      +1
      20 February 2026 23: 17
      Quote: Valera75
      They write that the Indians didn't refuse, now they write that they did. Wow! Is the COD a cunning plan by China? Is the CPI a cunning plan by India? Wow! Who refused what, who didn't, and who is confused? Or is this all CPT? A cunning plan by the redhead.

      A cheap product on the market will always find a buyer. Don't tell us those railway globalist fairy tales about Russia not being able to sell its oil because of some stupid sanctions.
      1. Leopold
        Leopold
        -3
        21 February 2026 00: 40
        Cheap goods on the market will always find their buyer.

        Did you take the cost of sanctions into account in the price?
        That's exactly it. Only cheese in a mousetrap comes cheap. No fairy tales!
      2. The comment was deleted.
  3. dubas
    dubas
    +2
    20 February 2026 23: 29
    Quote: Valera75
    They write that the Indians didn't refuse, now they write that they did. Wow! Is the COD a cunning plan by China? Is the CPI a cunning plan by India? Wow! Who refused what, who didn't, and who is confused? Or is this all CPT? A cunning plan by the redhead.

    Most of the oil goes unaccounted for, as has already been written about.
    India has completely stopped buying Russian oil, but its supplies have magically increased.
    This is pure magic with an Eastern tinge. The entire Western expert community is concerned that Trump's sanctions and tariffs are working in a very strange way, and not at all to the benefit of the United States.