NEW DELHI, Oct 20 Reuters The share of Russian oil in India39;s overall imports rose to about twofifths in the first half of fiscal 202324, consolidating Moscow39;s position as the top supplier as refiners curbed purchase from the Middle East, industry data showed.

India, the world39;s third largest oil importer and consumer, has emerged as the top buyer of the discounted Russian seaborne oil after Western nations stopped buying from Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.

Middle Eastern supplies are also likely to tighten further following Saudi Arabia39;s decision to extend its voluntary output cuts through the end of this year, prompting India to consider other options.

India imported on average 1.76 million barrels per day bpd of Russian oil from April to September, or the first half of fiscal 20232024, more than double the about 780,000 bpd in the same yearago period, tanker data from industry sources showed.

Last month, India39;s imports from Russia, which had slipped in July and August, recovered to 1.54 million bpd, up 11.8 from August and 71.7 from a year ago, the data showed.

Russia was the top oil supplier to India in April to September, followed by Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

India39;s imports from Iraq and Saudi Arabia fell by 12 and about 23 to 928,000 bpd and 607,500 bpd, respectively, during the AprilSeptember period, the data showed.

Imports from the Middle East in AprilSeptember declined by about 28 to 1.97 million bpd, dragging down the region39;s…