China Boosts Shadow Fleet Oil Imports From Russia as India Cuts Volumes
According to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, China increased imports of sanctioned Russian oil transported by vessels linked to Russia‘s shadow fleet in January 2026, while India significantly reduced its purchases.
The intelligence data indicates that China was the largest recipient of Russian oil delivered by shadow fleet tankers during the month. A total of 51 voyages transported 4.99 million tons of crude to China—an increase of 0.398 million tons compared to December.
Shadow Fleet Oil Exports Decline, But Russia’s Core Network Remains Strong
The agency reported that the largest share of shadow fleet exports originated from Russian ports in the Baltic Sea and the Far East. It also recorded 18 ship-to-ship transfer operations in January, primarily in waters near Nakhodka in the Sea of Japan, in the South China Sea near Hong Kong, and off the coast of Malaysia, followed by deliveries to China.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the number of active shadow fleet tankers declined by nine vessels at the beginning of the year. As of January 2026, analysts identified 138 tankers used for exporting Russian oil and petroleum products. Of these, 117 vessels were classified as part of the core shadow fleet, and 96 have already been placed under sanctions.
Russia’s Oil Sector Struggles Amid Falling Prices and Sanctions
Earlier, Russian media reported that a wave of bankruptcies is spreading across Russia‘s oil sector as crude prices fall to around $40 per barrel and tighter US sanctions cut export revenues. About half of oil and gas producers are now operating at a loss, with combined losses reaching $7.4 billion between January and November.
Despite these challenges, China continued to import Russian oil through the shadow fleet, while India reduced its purchases. The shift highlights the complexities of global energy markets and the ongoing impact of sanctions on Russia‘s economy.
Original Article: China Boosts Shadow Fleet Oil Imports From Russia as India Cuts Volumes — UNITED24 Media — United24Media