The seventh and final tanker carrying U.S.-sanctioned Sokol oil was scheduled to arrive in China’s Tianjin port on Tuesday night to discharge a Russian oil cargo, according to shipping data from LSEG and Kpler. The plan is to eliminate the backlog of crude oil stored in the area.
Six other sanctioned tankers unloaded cargoes of Sokol oil in China earlier this month, setting a record for China’s seaborne imports of Russian crude oil in March.
All of these tankers are under U.S. sanctions due to Russia’s war in Ukraine, but most shipments are operating within exemptions granted by the U.S. government.
The seventh tanker, Sakhalin Island, began heading toward China’s northeastern Chinese port of Tianjin late on Monday after more than three weeks adrift off the coast of nearby Shandong province, data showed.
Russia is suffering from an oversupply of Sokol as US sanctions tighten.More than 10 million barrels of oil will be supplied by Sakhalin 1, a division of Rosneft. 
RosunThe oil has remained in storage for the past three months due to payment difficulties and sanctions on shipping companies and ships that transport the crude oil.
India, the biggest buyer of Russian crude oil in 2023, is withdrawing from purchases amid tightening sanctions, leaving China, the world’s biggest oil importer, with a deal to buy expensive Iranian crude, according to traders and shipping data. It presents an opportunity to scoop up light sweet grades from Russia as a substitute for crude oil.
Chinese companies that received Sokol crude in March include Sinopec 
600028PetroChina 600028Sinochem, CNOOC, and Kpler, an independent refiner in Shandong Province, showed data.
According to Kupler, China’s seaborne imports of Russian crude oil were boosted by record imports of Russian Far East crude oil, including 440,000 barrels per day (440,000 barrels per day) and 967,000 barrels per day (bpd), It is expected to reach a record high of 1,816,000 barrels.
Apart from Sakhalin Island, the other six vessels that unloaded Sokol crude in China this month are Krymsk, Riteini Prospect, Nellis, NS Antarctic, NS Century and NS Lion.
All tankers except NS Century unloaded their cargo within the temporary exemption period from U.S. sanctions.
With the exception of Nerys, all tankers are operated by companies associated with Sofcomflot 
float. The United States has imposed sanctions on a major Russian tanker group for violating a $60 per barrel price cap on Russia’s crude oil exports.
Sovcomflot and Tianjin Port did not respond to requests for comment. The Nellis is managed by HS Nellis Ltd, who could not immediately be reached for comment.
According to LSEG data, the Krymsk and Riteny Prospect are currently anchored off the Russian coast of Nakhodka after landing in China, while the Nellis, NS Antarctic and NS Lion are anchored in Yeosu, South Korea. It is anchored in the suburbs. NS Century is anchored off the coast of Qingdao, China.
A G7-led price cap on Russian crude imposed in December 2022 would allow insurance and other services provided by Western countries only on cargoes valued at less than $60 per barrel, making Russia vulnerable to the Ukraine war. The aim is to reduce the funds available for
The Chinese government opposed unilateral sanctions and said China’s normal trade deserves to be respected and protected.
