US sanctions force ships with Russian oil to be diverted from India, said the source

At least two ships loaded with Russian oil to the refinent in India have diverted to other destinations after new US sanctions, said trading sources, and LSEG trade flows.

The US Department of Finance this week imposed sanctions on more than 115 people related to Iran, entities, and ships, some of them were involved in transporting Russian oil.

US President Donald Trump has urged countries to stop the purchase of oil from Moscow, threatening a 100% tariff unless Russia agrees for a significant peace agreement with Ukraine.

Three ships – Aframaxes Tagor and Guanyin and Suezmax Tassos – are scheduled to send Russian oil to the Indian port this month, said trading sources. The three ships are under US sanctions.

Tagor is bound to Chennai on the east coast of India, while Guanyin and Tassos headed to the port in West India, according to trading sources and Russian port data.

A tighter Western sanctions aimed at cutting Russian oil revenue, are seen as funding their war against Ukraine, increasingly hitting the supply of Russian oil for India, which bought more than one third of its oil needs from Russia.

Tagor is now heading to Dalian in China, while Tassos diverts to the Said port in Egypt, the data shows.

Guanyin remains on the path to Sikka, a port used by Reliance Industries and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd.

Indian Oil Corp, who will receive Tagor delivery, and BPCL does not respond to requests for Reuters’ comments sending emails.

Zulu Shipping, linked to the Panama-flagged tassos and Tagor, and Guanyin-owner Silver Tetra Marine cannot be contacted for comments. Both companies are under US sanctions.

A Reliance spokesman said that “None of these two ships, Guanyin and Tassos, will come to us”.

Reliance had previously bought oil in Guanyin.

Separately, two other ships, Achilles and Elyte, are loaded with Russian oil, are preparing to release Russian ural for dependence, according to LSEG data. Both of these ships were approved by the British and the European Union. India has condemned the European Union sanctions.
Source: Reuters (Additional Reporting by Chen Aizhu in Singapore, Editing by Louise Heavens)