OPEC's share of Indian oil imports falls to lowest in at least 15 yrs

OPEC's share of Indian oil imports fell in 2021 to the lowest in more than a decade despite a 4 per cent rebound in annual crude purchases by the world's third biggest oil importer, data obtained from industry sources showed.

Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), mainly from the Middle East and Africa, saw their share of the pie in India shrinking to 70 per cent in 2021, from a peak of 87 per cent in 2008, a Reuters analysis of the data from 2007 to 2021 showed.

India's crude imports rebounded 3.9 per cent to 4.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2021, the data showed, but remained below pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Imports are expected to rise further this year as fuel demand is recovering, with the government resisting lockdowns despite surging Covid-19 cases while refiners' margins are expected to stay strong. Last year, refiners had to cut crude processing for a few months as lockdowns hit gasoil and jet fuel consumption.

In December, imports surged to an 11-month high of about 4.7 million bpd, about 5 per cent more than in November, but still 7.8 per cent lower than a year earlier, the data showed.

"With fears of Omicron spread receding and refineries are expected to operate at full capacity because of improved cracks and fuel demand, Indian oil imports could rise by about 5 per cent," said MK Surana, chairman of state-run Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL).

OPEC's share shrunk as refiners increased imports from Canada and the United States, at the expense of Africa and the Middle East, the data showed.

As US sanctions made it difficult for India to import crude from Venezuela and Iran, Indian buyers have turned to the United States, Canada, Guyana and some small producers in Africa for supplies.

US and Canadian oil accounted for a record 7.3 per cent and 2.7 per cent of India's imports, respectively, compared with 5.5 per cent and 0.7 per cent a year earlier.

The share of Latin American oil plunged to a 12-year low of 8.7 per cent as India halted imports from Venezuela under pressure from US sanctions, the data showed. Middle Eastern oil accounted for about 62 per cent of India's overall imports, the data showed.

Iraq remained India's top supplier in 2021 since it overtook Saudi Arabia in 2017.

Iraqi supplies to India are expected to increase in 2022 as HPCL will lift 45 per cent more crude for its expanded refining capacity.

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