--- title: "BPCL to cut Russian crude imports in November as freight costs rise" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/bpcl-to-cut-russian-crude-imports-in-november-as-freight-costs-rise" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/bpcl-to-cut-russian-crude-imports-in-november-as-freight-costs-rise" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/bpcl-to-cut-russian-crude-imports-in-november-as-freight-costs-rise.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/bpcl-to-cut-russian-crude-imports-in-november-as-freight-costs-rise" category: "Business & Economy" area: "India" published: "2026-10-26T15:45:40.737Z" source_reported: "2026-10-26T13:44:26.041Z" updated: "2026-10-26T15:45:40.737Z" trust_score: 76 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 12 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-26T15:35:35.097Z" --- # BPCL to cut Russian crude imports in November as freight costs rise *The state‑run refiner says higher shipping fees and cheaper Middle‑Eastern oil will drive a drop in Russian purchases, while planning shutdowns at Mumbai and Kochi refineries later in the year.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 76 of 100, higher is better. Named BPCL finance head and 37% figure with quarter source raise trust to 76. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Explains cause, quotes exec, gives specific data and future outlook, meeting craft criteria. - Hype 12 of 100, lower is better. Straightforward language, no sensationalism, score low. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - BPCL said its Russian crude imports will drop in November due to higher freight costs and more attractive Middle‑Eastern grades. - Russian oil accounted for about 37 % of BPCL’s sourcing mix in the July‑September quarter. - The company plans a 30‑day shutdown at its Mumbai refinery and a 30‑40‑day maintenance turn‑around at Kochi in the third and fourth quarters. - Left‑leaning coverage highlighted Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure as a pressure factor. India’s state‑run Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd announced that it expects Russian crude purchases to fall in November. The company attributed the decline to higher freight costs and to Middle‑Eastern grades becoming more commercially viable, a view expressed by its head of finance, Vetsa Ramakrishna Gupta, after the quarterly earnings release. In the July‑September quarter Russian crude represented roughly 37 % of BPCL’s overall crude sourcing mix. The firm also indicated that the premium on Russian cargoes had narrowed to about $1‑$2 a barrel for December shipments, down from $12‑$13 a barrel in October. BPCL warned that refinery runs may moderate later in the year as it carries out a planned 30‑day shutdown of some units at its Mumbai refinery and a 30‑to‑40‑day maintenance turnaround involving units at its Kochi refinery. > "Russian volumes in November would be lower because Middle Eastern grades are more commercially viable compared to Russian grades," Vetsa Ramakrishna Gupta, BPCL's head of finance, told analysts. > > — Vetsa Ramakrishna Gupta, head of finance, BPCL **37%** — Share of Russian crude in July‑September sourcing mix (According to BPCL) ## What the coverage left out None of the right‑rated digests mention the premium narrowing to $1‑$2 a barrel for December cargoes that the Economic Times report recorded. The left‑rated digest does not refer to freight costs, the 37 % share, or the planned refinery shutdowns. ## Who covered it Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 13% (1) - Centre: 24% (2) - Right: 63% (5) 5 of 13 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-26T15:35:35.097Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-26T16:00:24.342Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The Indian Express digest noted that Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure are a key reason for pressure on Moscow’s oil exports, linking the expected decline in BPCL’s Russian purchases to the broader geopolitical conflict. ### Centre - The Economic Times full report led on higher freight costs and the growing economic appeal of Middle‑Eastern grades, citing the 37 % share of Russian crude in the recent quarter and the planned refinery shutdowns. Reuters’ digest echoed the freight‑cost and Middle‑East shift narrative. ### Right - Right‑rated digests (Times of India, ABP News, Moneycontrol, The Hindu Business Line, EADaily) all highlighted the rise in freight costs making Russian oil expensive and the resulting shift toward Middle‑Eastern supplies. Several noted that refinery operations may slow because of planned maintenance, and Moneycontrol mentioned the 37 % Russian share. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 3 - high: 2 - unknown: 5 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Rigzone](https://rigzone.com/news/wire/gulf_oil_bargains_lure_india_away_from_russia-26-oct-2026-184931-article) — Gulf Oil Bargains Lure India Away from Russia - [EADaily](https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2026/10/26/rossiyskaya-neft-stala-slishkom-dorogoy-dlya-indii) — Russian Oil Has Become Too Expensive for India. - [Pragativadi: Leading Odia Dailly](https://pragativadi.com/bpcl-russian-crude-oil-imports-and-market-changes) — BPCL Russian Crude Oil Imports to Fall in Nov Over Freight Costs - [Banker.az](https://banker.az/hindistan-rusiya-neftind%c9%99n-uzaqlasir-iraq-boyuk-endiriml%c9%99r-t%c9%99klif-edir) — India Moves Away From Russian Oil – Iraq Offers Big Discounts - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/business/energy/indias-bpcl-expects-russian-crude-purchases-fall-november-2026-10-26) — India's BPCL expects Russian crude purchases to fall in November - [Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/business/bpcl-russian-crude-purchases-november-west-asian-oil-10937649) — Russian crude purchases may fall in November as West Asian oil’s viability improves: BPCL - [India TV Hindi Hindi](https://indiatv.in/paisa/business/there-is-no-longer-much-benefit-in-buying-crude-oil-from-russia-state-run-oil-company-bpcl-will-reduce-its-purchases-2026-10-26-1251046) — There Is No Longer Much Profit in Buying Crude Oil From Russia, State-Owned Oil Company BPCL Will Reduce Purchases - India TV Hindi - [The Hindu Business Line](https://thehindubusinessline.com/markets/commodities/bpcl-expects-russian-crude-purchases-to-fall-in-november-as-freight-costs-rise/article71626576.ece) — BPCL shifts to Middle Eastern crude as Russian oil costs rise - [ABP News](https://abplive.com/business/crude-oil-import-from-russia-to-fall-in-november-reveals-bharat-petroleum-3207045) — Bharat Petroleum's Big Decision, the Company Will Reduce the Purchase of Crude Oil From Russia. - [Moneycontrol](https://moneycontrol.com/news/business/bpcl-to-sharply-cut-russian-oil-purchases-in-november-as-middle-east-crude-turns-more-attractive-14060198.html) — BPCL to sharply cut Russian oil purchases in November as Middle East crude turns more attractive - [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/bpcl-expects-russian-crude-purchases-to-fall-in-november/articleshow/135206600.cms) — BPCL expects Russian crude purchases to fall in November - [The Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/bpcl-expects-russian-crude-purchases-to-fall-in-november/articleshow/135206600.cms) — BPCL expects Russian crude purchases to fall in November - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/2b7da3293a3afa4f) — India's BPCL expects Russian crude purchases to fall in November ## Questions **Why is BPCL reducing its Russian crude purchases in November?** BPCL says higher freight costs for tankers and the better price competitiveness of Middle‑Eastern grades are making Russian oil less attractive, so it will cut Russian imports for the month. **What share of BPCL’s crude supply came from Russia in the July‑September quarter?** Russian crude accounted for about 37 % of BPCL’s total crude sourcing mix during the July‑September quarter, according to the company’s statements. **How will the planned shutdowns affect BPCL’s refining capacity?** BPCL plans a 30‑day shutdown of units at its Mumbai refinery and a 30‑to‑40‑day maintenance turnaround at its Kochi refinery, which will moderate refinery runs in the third and fourth quarters. **Which outlets highlighted geopolitical factors behind the decline?** The Indian Express digest emphasized that Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure are a key pressure factor on Moscow’s oil exports, linking it to BPCL’s reduced Russian purchases. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/bpcl-to-cut-russian-crude-imports-in-november-as-freight-costs-rise. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "BPCL to cut Russian crude imports in November as freight costs rise", https://mediabias.news/business/bpcl-to-cut-russian-crude-imports-in-november-as-freight-costs-rise