The purchases took place prior to the latest sanctions by the EU and Britain on Moscow's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers and financial firms. India's strong demand has led to a rebound in spot premiums for ESPO cargoes delivered to China, the biggest buyer of the crude exported from the Far East port of Kozmino. Crude distillation unit shutdowns at India's major refineries Reliance Industries and MRPL have increased import requirements for feedstock at fluid catalytic crackers on favorable margins, said Jay Shah, a senior oil analyst at consultancy Rystad Energy. He added that some of these cargoes were delivered under a long-term deal between Reliance Industries and Rosneft, noting that cargoes arriving at the western Sikka port for the Indian refiner have increased since the beginning of the year.