India is gaining an edge over foreign competitors in attracting Russian crude oil shipments, as exemptions granted by the United States for the purchase of Russian crude transported by tankers, along with supply disruptions in the Middle East, are prompting Indian refiners to resume buying Russian oil. Vessels are altering their routes mid-journey, departing from their original destinations and heading toward India.

According to tanker tracking data from MarineTraffic, the crude oil tanker named Aqua Titan—which departed from the Russian Baltic Sea port of Primorsk in mid-January—has turned around in the South China Sea and is now en route to Mangalore, India, with an estimated arrival date of March 21.

Data from Vortexa indicates that at least seven tankers carrying Russian oil have changed their destinations to India while in transit.

Earlier this year, when most buyers avoided Russian crude due to U.S. sanctions and pressure on India to reduce imports of Russian oil, Russia and India were competing for millions of barrels of Russian crude stranded on trapped tankers.

Now, with the U.S. permitting all parties to purchase Russian crude and increased competition for Russian supplies in Asia, the price of key Russian crude grades has shifted to a premium over Brent crude, whereas just one month ago, it was trading at a significant discount.

David Wech, Chief Economist at Vortexa, stated last Friday that the volume of Russian crude oil on the water has decreased by more than 20 million barrels since the beginning of March, equivalent to a reduction of over 2 million barrels per day.