India Tightens Russian Oil Checks as Imports Slide and Prices Hit War Lows

Stronger Indian enforcement coincides with sanctions pressure to push Russian crude to the deepest discounts of the war.

Overview

Indian officials expect December Russian crude arrivals to drop to about 800,000 barrels a day from roughly 1.9 million in November, while Kpler estimates near 1.3 million barrels a day.
Ports and banks have stepped up scrutiny, and the Ministry of Shipping now requires certificates of origin, flag registration data, and additional vessel documentation, with extra checks on the shadow fleet.
Bloomberg, citing Argus data, reports Russian exporters are receiving just over $40 a barrel on average from Baltic, Black Sea, and Kozmino loadings after fresh measures targeting Rosneft and Lukoil.
Global benchmarks fell on Tuesday on reporting about Ukraine–Russia peace prospects and weak Chinese data, with Brent near $60.21 a barrel and WTI at $56.52.
Oil prices rebounded more than 1% on Wednesday after the U.S. announced a blockade on sanctioned tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, a step traders said could affect 0.4–0.5 million barrels a day even as the market remains well supplied.