India to buy one-third less oil from Saudi Arabia

State refiners slashed their orders for Saudi Arabian crude in May by a third in a signal to the kingdom that a big buyer like India cannot be antagonised, people with direct knowledge of the matter said.
The gap can be made up in later months if the standoff between the two countries is resolved, they added. IndianOil, BPCL, HPCL and MRPL, all state-run refiners, placed orders on Monday for less oil than usual from Saudi in May.