Latest official Indian crude import stats for October show volumes from Iraq rebounding to 1.06mn b/d, the highest since March, and the first over 1mn b/d since April.

Iraq was India’s top supplier every year from 2017 to 2022 but Russia has surged ahead this year. India’s imports from Russia have eased in recent months (MEES, 24 November), with October’s 1.44mn b/d the lowest since January. However, at 1.67mn b/d for 10M 2023 (up 172% year-on-year) Russia is still over 700,000 b/d ahead of number two Iraq (963,000 b/d) on a year-to-date basis. (CONTINUED - 217 WORDS)