US gives India 30-day exemption to purchase Russian oil from tankers
6.03.2026 - 09:57
The US Treasury Department explained the decision by the need to maintain supplies on the global market amid disruptions due to the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington has temporarily allowed Indian refineries to buy Russian oil that is already at sea or stuck on tankers. This was announced by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant.
According to Bessant, the permission applies only to Russian oil that is already en route or cannot be quickly unloaded, so this step should not give Russia significant additional financial benefits.
Washington also emphasized that India remains an important US partner, and New Delhi, according to the American side, should continue to increase purchases of American oil. The temporary relaxation is presented as an anti-crisis measure against the background of risks to global energy supplies.
Amid the military escalation in the Middle East, Indian refineries are already looking more closely at Russian oil that has accumulated off the coast of India. So, about 9.5 million barrels of Russian oil are located near Indian waters, available for delivery for several weeks. As USM wrote the day before, ports in India are again accepting Rosneft after the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
