Tue Aug 26 13:52:23 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**The Hindu: Russian Fuel Oil Finds New Homes in India and Saudi Arabia Amidst Sanctions**

**MOSCOW, August 26, 2025 (The Hindu)** – Despite international sanctions, Russia continues to find buyers for its fuel oil and vacuum gasoil (VGO), with India and Saudi Arabia emerging as key destinations, according to recent data. The shift follows the European Union’s full embargo on Russian oil products in February 2023, forcing Russia to redirect its energy exports eastward.

In July, Saudi Arabia imported approximately 1.1 million metric tons of Russian fuel oil and VGO, consistent with June figures. This influx is primarily utilized to fuel power plants during peak air conditioning season, when energy demand surges in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, India’s imports of Russian dark oil products saw a significant increase, rising by 65% from June to approximately 0.6 million tons in July. Indian refiners are increasingly turning to Russian straight-run fuel oil and VGO as a cost-effective alternative to Urals crude oil. Though Russia is still the biggest oil supplier to India, imports declined by a quarter month on month in July as some refiners slowed purchases owing to smaller discounts.

Singapore, Turkey, and Senegal also featured prominently as destinations for Russian fuel oil and VGO. The data, compiled by LSEG, tracks cargo departure dates from Russian ports.

The increased reliance of countries like India on Russian oil products raises questions about the long-term impact of Western sanctions and the evolving dynamics of global energy markets. This story is part of *The Hindu’s* ongoing coverage of international relations and oil and gas markets, available through its various newsletters and online platforms.

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