Sixty-two cargoes have been booked so far to load West African crude for buyers in Asia, including 33 for China. The total is two cargoes above February, but lower on a barrel per day (bpd) basis due to the shorter month.
Exports to China are locked in at a higher level since Angola's Sonangol inked a deal with Sinochem that included as many as six cargoes per month on a term basis.
The deal began in February, increasing the amount of West African crude sailing east under contract.
Indian buying rebounded slightly from the 13-month low it reached on a bpd basis in February. Traders said the startup of the 300,000-bpd Paradip refinery, which started processing oil early in February, encouraged more bookings to India.
A more favourable spread between Brent and Dubai crudes also helped make West African oil attractive to eastern spot buyers; India's Reliance booked at least two cargoes for March loading.