Russian oil tankers are now listing Singapore as their official destination more often. This shows a shift from India to China as the main buyer. It also highlights worries about Western sanctions. According to London Stock Exchange Group data, about 1.4 million metric tons of Russian crude left for Singapore in January, the highest in recent years. Singapore itself does not import Russian oil because of sanctions. But nearby waters are used for ship-to-ship oil transfers. Traders say many tankers unload near Malaysia or transfer oil to floating storage. Singapore acts as a placeholder destination to hide the final buyers. A Moscow-based oil trader said, "The rise in tankers listing destinations such as Singapore, Suez, or Port Said signals mounting difficulties with sales and a shrinking pool of reliable buyers." India is expected to reduce or stop Russian oil imports after a recent US trade deal. This leaves China as the main customer for Russian oil. However, Chinese state oil firms are cautious about buying spot cargoes due to sanction risks. This further limits Russia's export options. Previously, tankers going to India listed Egypt’s Port Said or the Suez Canal as destinations. Now, using vague or conditional ports like Singapore has grown as companies try to hide final destinations and reduce sanction risks.