<article><p class="lead">Iraq was India's top crude supplier in July, accounting for 20pc of the country's total crude imports of 3.89mn b/d followed by Saudi Arabia with 16pc. </p><p>Iraq's share fell by less than a percentage point from a year earlier, while Saudi Arabia's share dropped by seven percentage points because of its more expensive supplies. </p><p>Iraq supplied 796,000 b/d in July compared with 786,000 b/d a year earlier, while Saudi Arabia shipped 640,000 b/d from 856,000 b/d a year earlier, according to latest customs data that uses landed and cleared cargo arrivals. This compared with an average 824,000 b/d shipped by Iraq in the <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2136574">April-June quarter</a> and 696,000 b/d by Saudi Arabia. </p><p>The UAE was India's third-largest crude supplier in July at 563,000 b/d compared with 250,000 b/d a year earlier and 327,000 b/d during April-June. US supplies saw the largest gains in July, eating into India's traditional Middle East suppliers. The US was the fourth-largest supplier at 411,000 b/d in July from just 52,000 b/d a year earlier and from 183,000 b/d for April-June. </p><p>Russian supplies rose to 125,000 b/d in July from 84,000 b/d a year earlier and from 55,000 b/d during April-June. </p><p>Venezuelan imports dropped to zero from 253,000 b/d a year earlier after Indian private-sector refiner Reliance Industries and Russian-controlled Rosneft's Nayara Energy stopped accepting Venezuelan oil in deference to US sanctions. It had supplied 98,000 b/d during April-June.</p><p>Supplies from Nigeria, a supplier of sweet grades, plunged to 180,000 b/d from 331,000 b/d a year earlier and 273,000 b/d in April-June.</p><p class="bylines">By S Dinakar</p></article>
