🇷🇺🇨🇳 China takes advantage of record discounts and increases Russian oil purchases
China is significantly increasing its imports of Russian Urals oil, benefiting from historically discounted prices following a sharp reduction in purchases by India.
For months, India was one of the main buyers of Russian crude. However, U.S. sanctions against Russian oil companies cooled its appetite, causing Indian imports to fall in December to their lowest level in three years.
🔻 Key change in energy flow
India reduces Russian crude purchases
Russia offers record discounts to maintain volume
China aggressively steps in to cover the demand $AXS
📊 Key data
China traditionally imported Russian ESPO crude
Urals imports to China now reach a record 400,000 barrels per day
Despite the logistical disadvantage (western Russian ports), the price offsets the transportation cost $KAIA
🌍 Geopolitical implications This move strengthens the energy alliance between China and Russia while redistributing the global flow of oil in an environment marked by sanctions, geopolitical tensions, and reconfiguration of supply chains.
📌 Conclusion When politics reduce demand, price opens up opportunities. China is demonstrating that, in energy, strategy outweighs distance.
