US Crude Exports Fall as India Turns to Iran

Indian buyers reduced US crude purchases and loaded up on Iranian oil ahead of the restart of US sanctions next month and as the WTI-Brent differential narrowed, according to traders and shipping intelligence firm Kpler.

US oil shipments to India fell to 84,000 barrels per day last month, down 75% from a record high of 347,000 bpd in June, Kpler data showed. India accounted for 12% of US crude exports in June, Reuters reported. 

Last month, Indian buyers lifted purchases of Iranian crude to 502,000 bpd, up 111,000 bpd over August, in “a last gasp” of purchases “before sanctions actually hit,” a US-based trader said, adding that those additional barrels displaced US crude. 

Overall US exports also fell 917,000 bpd to 1.7 million bpd in the last week of September, according to the Energy Information Administration, as a stronger US dollar and Brent’s premium to WTI fell, making US crude less affordable. 

India, which has become a key Asian destination for US crude this year, has been one of the top two buyers of Iranian crude. 

However, the country’s refiners since June have cut purchases of Iranian crude ahead of US sanctions. 

US exports to all Asian countries fell 73,000 bpd to 427,000 bpd last week, while US shipments to Europe dropped 102,000 bpd to 543,000 bpd, Kpler data showed. 

Iran’s crude exports to China also increased by 29,000 bpd to 620,000 bpd, according to Kpler, as China cut its US purchases amid an ongoing trade spat with the United States. 

Oil prices rose back towards four-year highs on Friday as traders anticipated a tighter market due to US sanctions on Iran’s crude exports. 

Benchmark Brent crude oil was up 30 cents a barrel at $84.88. On Thursday, Brent fell by $1.34 a barrel or 1.6%, but the contract remains on course for a gain of around 2.5% for the week. 

US light crude was up 50 cents at $74.83, reflecting a gain of more than 2% since last Friday. 

“The market mood is exceptionally bullish, with fears growing that the US demands for an Iran oil embargo could cause a significant supply shortfall,” said Norbert Rucker, head of macro and commodity research at Julius Baer.