New Delhi: A tanker carrying Iranian crude oil, which had earlier indicated Gujarat as its destination, has changed course mid-voyage and is now headed to China. The shipment would have marked India’s first import of Iranian oil in nearly seven years.

The Aframax tanker Ping Shun, built in 2002 and sanctioned by the United States in 2025, is currently signalling Dongying in China as its destination instead of Vadinar in Gujarat, according to ship-tracking firm Kpler.

However, there is no certainty that the destination displayed through the vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) reflects its final port of call, as such signals can change during transit.

Had the cargo reached India, it would have been the first import of Iranian crude since 2019. Indian refiners have recently been exploring opportunities to procure limited Iranian oil cargoes following a temporary sanctions waiver by Washington.

According to reports, the diversion appears to be linked to payment-related concerns. Sellers are reportedly tightening terms, shifting away from earlier credit periods of 30–60 days towards upfront or near-term payments. The identities of the buyer and seller, however, remain unclear.

Vadinar houses a 20-million-tonne-per-year refinery operated by Nayara Energy, backed by Russian oil major Rosneft.

Meanwhile, India’s oil ministry has maintained that any decision on resuming Iranian oil imports will depend on techno-commercial viability.

Historically, India was a significant importer of Iranian crude, benefiting from refinery compatibility and favourable pricing. However, imports came to a halt in May 2019 following tighter US sanctions, with supplies replaced by crude from the Middle East, the United States and other sources.

The Ping Shun is estimated to be carrying around 600,000 barrels of oil loaded from Kharg Island around March 4, with an earlier expected arrival in Vadinar on April 4. DeshGujarat