India's Russian Oil Imports Hit Record High Amid Shipping Uncertainty

India's imports of Russian crude oil have reached an all-time high in July, according to data from vessel-tracking firm Kpler. The country imported 2.8 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil in July, a significant increase from the previous high of 2.7 million bpd in June.

This represents more than half of India's total crude oil imports in July, which stood at just over 5 million bpd. The rise in Russian imports is attributed to various factors, including threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea.

Indian refiners have been relying on Russian volumes due to these uncertain shipping conditions. They also boosted imports from Saudi Arabia and Iraq during the mid-June-mid-July window when the Strait of Hormuz was open to tanker traffic.