India Boosts Russian Oil Imports Despite Tighter Sanctions

India’s crude oil imports from Russia last month rose to their highest since November, upending Western nation’s efforts to stymie Moscow’s oil supply chain by tightening sanctions, according to data from crude-tracking firm Kpler.

The world’s third-largest crude oil consumer imported 1.7 million barrels a day from Moscow in March, registering a growth of 9% on month, the data showed. Imports from Russia still remain below the peak of 2.2 million barrels a day hit in May last year.

“The US is throwing boulders at the mountain stream of Russo-Indian trade but the waters always flow around it,” said ...