India Pivots to Fueling Russia Amid Refinery Disruptions

India has emerged as a significant supplier of gasoline to Russia, amid a surge in Russian fuel imports triggered by Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries. According to energy analytics firm Vortexa, Russia's seaborne gasoline imports reached a record 125,000 barrels per day in August, equivalent to approximately 470,000 tonnes for the month.

The majority of India's gasoline exports to Russia came from the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat, operated by Nayara Energy, which is half-owned by Russia's Rosneft. Indian refiners supplied as much as 1 million barrels of gasoline in the last two months, trade sources said.

India has been pivoting towards Russia to meet its crude oil needs since 2022, with the country importing over 2.6 million barrels per day of Russian crude in June and July, accounting for more than half of India's crude imports.