All Indian oil refineries have now stopped accepting Russian crude on tankers operated by sanctioned state-owned Sovcomflot.
The move follows a decision by Reliance Industries to halt imports on Sovcomflot ships last week and deals another blow to Moscow’s export operations.
Bloomberg cited industry sources as saying all private and state-run refineries have agreed to the ban, including the largest, Indian Oil Corp.
Oil companies have also been inspecting all tankers bringing in crude to make sure Sovcomflot or other sanctioned companies do not operate them.
These checks have disrupted crude imports on other ships, with tankers being forced to wait for weeks off the coast before they can berth.
Reuters reported on Thursday that Reliance, India’s largest private oil company with the world’s biggest refinery complex, had stopped accepting crude from Sovcomflot tankers.
Other Indian refiners include Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum, Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals and Nayara Energy, which is 49% owned by Russia’s Rosneft.
They have not commented and nor has Sovcomflot.
Earlier this month, the threat of US sanctions prompted a Turkish terminal to halt imports of Russian oil on tankers.
The midsize Mediterranean facility at Dortyol received record Russian volumes in 2023 but has told clients it will not accept any more cargoes.
Operator Global Terminal Services said the ban applies even to cargoes not breaching any sanctions or regulations.
India and Turkey have been among the biggest importers of crude and fuel from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
In February, the US imposed sanctions on Sovcomflot and 14 crude tankers involved in Russian oil trades.
More Sovcomflot tankers are now heading to China instead, trading sources have said.
