WANA (Apr 08) – Tanker tracking data indicates that a shipment of Iranian crude oil, loaded in mid-March from Kharg Island, is set to arrive in India this week.

 

Maritime data shows that the cargo is heading to Indian ports—marking the first such delivery in seven years.

 

The tanker, which loaded Iranian crude in early March from Kharg Island, has declared Indian ports as its final destination. According to data from analytics firm Kpler, the vessel is carrying approximately 600,000 barrels of Iranian crude oil.

 

India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, had completely halted imports of Iranian oil in May 2019 following the imposition of strict U.S. sanctions during the first Trump administration.

 

Disruptions to tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed India into a severe fuel crisis.

 

Around 50% of India’s crude oil and a significant portion of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply pass through this strait, and any effective closure has paralyzed the country’s energy supply chain.

 

Under these circumstances, the United States was compelled to issue a temporary waiver allowing the purchase of Iranian oil in order to prevent a deeper energy crisis and curb soaring oil prices.