An oil tanker carrying Russian crude from Rosneft has been idling off Mumbai for a week due to US sanctions, impacting Indian refiners' purchases. This situation highlights the ongoing geopolitical tensions and their effects on global oil markets.

The Ailana, an Aframax-sized oil tanker, has been anchored off the coast of Mumbai since October 24, carrying a cargo of Russian crude oil from Rosneft. This situation arises after the US imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil on October 22, aimed at increasing pressure on Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As a result, Indian refiners, which account for over half of India's Russian crude imports, have paused their purchases, leading to expectations of a significant drop in imports for December and January. The Ailana's cargo, consisting of about 720,000 barrels of Urals crude, was loaded in late September, and the sanctions require transactions with the sanctioned entities to cease by November 21. The tanker has not yet been scheduled to dock, leaving its future uncertain as the oil market closely monitors the evolving situation.