India’s crude imports remain well down on year-ago levels as Covid-19 infection rates and the impact on the country’s economy remain high. September’s crude imports of 3.14mn b/d were the third lowest since 2014; only May and July, at the height of lockdown, were lower. Average 9M 2020 imports of 3.89mn b/d are down 12% year on year (MEES, 13 November for full data).
Iraq remains top with 939,000 b/d for 9M 2020. Iraq volumes were down 6% year on year. But with number two Saudi Arabia seeing volumes fall 14% to 727,000 b/d, Iraq widened its lead to over 200,000 b/d. The 549,000 b/d that India took from Saudi Arabia in September is the lowest monthly figure since 2015. (CONTINUED - 249 WORDS)
