India imported about 7% more oil in April compared with the same month last year, according to preliminary tanker arrival data obtained from shipping and industry sources.
India shipped in about 4.83 million barrels per day (bpd) oil in April, about 12 percent more than the previous month, the data showed.
Iraq continued to be the top oil supplier to India followed by Saudi Arabia. Nigeria knocked down Venezuela to the fourth position in April compared to March and emerged as the third-biggest oil supplier to India. Mexico was the fifth-largest source, a position held by the United Arab Emirates in March.
Rising volumes from the United States, accounting for 6% of India's overall purchases, turned the country into sixth-biggest source of oil, the data showed.
Iran slipped to the seventh position in April from fourth in March, as tough US sanctions against Tehran curtailed purchases by Indian refiners. In April, India imported about 277,600 bpd of Iranian oil compared with 640,000 bpd a year ago.
The share of Latin American nations in India's overall purchases in April rose to 16.8% from 13.6% a year ago, while African grades accounted for about 19.7% compared with 16% a year earlier, the data showed.
Middle Eastern countries supplied about 50% of India's overall oil imports in April, down from 64.5% a year ago, the data showed.