India's crude oil imports from Latin America and Africa rose marginally in February as refiners turned to alternative sources, fearing a loss of Russian oil supplies caused by tighter U.S. sanctions,

Indian imports of Russian crude oil are rebounding in March after a decline earlier in the year, as traders secure non-sanctioned tankers and Urals crude falls below the G7 price cap.

India imported 1.48 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil from Russia, down from 1.67 million bpd in the previous month, according to data from Kpler, a commodity market analytics firm.

India's Russian oil imports recovered in March, returning to near usual levels after a 3-month decline, as non-sanctioned vessels were delivering cargoes, while some supplies were diverted from Turkey,

In the first 10 days of March, Russian crude oil loadings for India were at around 590 thousand barrels per day (bpd), lower than 1.14 million bpd to China, showed data from commodity market analytics firm Kpler.

Non-sanctioned vessels were delivering cargoes, while some shipments were diverted from Turkey. The flow recovery to the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer is easing a supply glut and lowering prices for rival Middle East grades.