Russia’s Oil Flows by Sea Surge But Cargoes Sit Undelivered

The amount of Russian crude oil that’s stuck at sea is rising as Joe Biden’s farewell sanctions on Moscow continue to snarl the nation’s petroleum trade.

While exports from the country’s ports jumped to a three-month high, India’s refiners are so far refusing to accept cargoes that have been moved on sanctioned tankers, even if only for part of their voyage. Some Chinese ports appear to be taking the same approach.

The Indian decision has effectively closed off the south Asian nation as a destination for crude from the Arctic and from projects off Sakhalin Island in Russia’s Far East, which all rely on specialized ...