Russian oil discounts vanish in India as Urals flips to premium on tight supply

The same factors have also supported Chinese demand for Russian crude, including ESPO Blend, Russia's flagship Far East grade. Premiums for ESPO Blend have strengthened in recent weeks as Chinese buyers sought alternatives to potentially disrupted Middle Eastern supplies, traders said.

At the same time, supply of Urals crude loaded from Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk has been constrained by ongoing drone attacks in southern Russia and the Black Sea region, limiting export availability and supporting prices.

China and India remain the largest buyers of Russian crude after Moscow redirected most of its oil exports to Asia following Western sanctions and embargoes imposed in response to Russia's war in Ukraine.

Russian oil has remained attractive to Asian refiners because of its competitive pricing, but discounts have narrowed steadily this year amid robust demand and fluctuations in supply, traders said.

(Reporting by Reuters reporters in MOSCOW, Nidhi Verma in NEW DELHI; Editing by Alexander Smith)