Asia's crude oil markets are adjusting rapidly to new sanctions against top supplier Russia, sucking up cargoes while they can and moving to alternatives for deliveries in coming months. The top-oil importing continent,

For Russian oil, tougher sanctions imposed a month ago by the outgoing Biden administration have driven up costs for refiners in China and India, with March ESPO Blend crude traded at $2 to $3 above ICE Brent on a DES basis to China, the highest premiums in more than two years, three trade sources said.

The oil tanker Cordelia Moon, carrying crude from a Russian producer, has come under US sanctions and has been drifting off India's west coast for two days, according to Bloomberg. The Cordelia Moon was scheduled to unload at Vadinar Port on February 9,

India, the No. 2 importer of crude from Russia, wants to buy Russian oil only if it is supplied by companies and ships that have not been sanctioned by the United States, the country's oil secretary said.

U.S. sanctions on Russia should not affect Moscow's oil trade with India, Pavel Sorokin, Russia's first deputy energy minister, said on Tuesday, adding that it was too early to assess the impact of the latest restrictions.

Indian Oil is purchasing Russian crude oil without sanctioned entities' involvement. The company anticipates a 6-7% growth in gasoline demand and 4% in diesel by 2026. However, petrochemical margins are expected to remain weak due to oversupply,

U.S. sanctions on Russia should not affect Moscow's oil trade with India, Pavel Sorokin, Russia's first deputy energy minister, said on Tuesday, while adding it was too early to assess the impact of the latest restrictions.