*Russia remains by far the largest crude oil supplier to India. Volumes averaged 1.65mn b/d last quarter, well ahead of No.2 supplier Iraq on 858,000 b/d. The scale of the task of replacing Russian barrels following new US and EU restrictions is therefore considerable.
*Doubts therefore remain over whether India will commit to a pivot away from Russian supplies (MEES, 24 October), although there are growing reports of refiners seeking alternatives in the near-term at least. Indian refiners have been active in the Middle East spot market over the past week. (CONTINUED - 212 WORDS)
