India will be among Asian buyers taking more oil from Saudi Aramco next month after pulling away from Russian crude, though the modest rise has left traders wondering how the world’s third-largest importer will fill a shortfall of up to 1.2 million barrels a day.

China, meanwhile, has surprised traders by reducing Saudi imports, a drop some attributed to planned refinery maintenance at a state-owned company and more purchases from other regions such as the Americas.

At least 18 to 20 million more barrels were sought by customers across India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan for December compared with this month, as Saudi’s selling prices were deemed attractive, according to people familiar with the sale, who asked not to be named as they’re not authorised to speak publicly. Sales to China

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