Imports at 4.39 million bbd; diesel buying at five-year high India sustained crude oil imports at a record and purchased more diesel than it has in the previous three years combined. The South Asian nation imported 17.96 million metric tons of crude last month, according to data released Wednesday by the oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell. That’s roughly equivalent to 4.39 million barrels a day, little changed from a record in March. A surge in diesel buying to a five-year high pushed net exports of the fuel to the lowest since May 2015. Total product imports at 3 million tons were the highest ever. India is becoming the center of global oil demand growth as an expanding economy translates into more goods being transported and increasing consumer spending. Water shortages and disputes between government-owned refiners and their private rivals has further boosted the need for overseas supplies. […]