Iranian crude tanker bound for India diverts to China after nearing Gujarat coast

NEW DELHI / SINGAPORE, April 3:  An Eswatini-flagged tanker carrying Iranian crude has changed its declared destination from India to China after approaching the Indian coastline, according to ship-tracking data and commodity analysts.

The vessel, identified as Ping Shun, is carrying around 600,000 barrels of Iranian crude oil and was initially on course for Vadinar port in Gujarat, India. However, tracking data reviewed by commodity analytics firm Kpler showed the tanker making a sharp change in direction after nearing the Indian coast, later updating its destination to Dongying in China’s Shandong province.

The tanker had earlier indicated it would arrive at Vadinar between late Thursday and early Friday, but instead altered course southward before redirecting toward China. Trade sources cited payment-related complications as a possible reason for the diversion, suggesting that sellers may have tightened transaction terms amid shifting financial arrangements in the sanctioned oil trade.

The development comes against the backdrop of a temporary sanctions waiver issued by the United States on March 21, allowing transactions involving Iranian crude already loaded onto vessels to proceed until April 19. The cargo aboard Ping Shun is understood to have been loaded earlier this month at Iran’s Kharg Island export terminal and is believed to fall within the scope of the waiver.

While destination changes are not uncommon in sanctioned oil shipments, the vessel’s initial trajectory toward India suggested it was intended for delivery to an Indian refinery. It remains unclear which Indian buyer, if any, was originally set to receive the cargo.

Authorities and shipping companies involved have not publicly commented on the diversion, and the final discharge port and buyer arrangements have not been independently verified.