Russia is raising oil output for a third month in a row, even as sales to China and India are dropping off

Russia has increased oil production for the third month in a row despite a decline in deliveries to India and China.

In the first half of July, rising demand from buyers at home helped Moscow make up a small drop in exports.

The country pumped 10.78 million barrels of oil a day. After a 5% increase in June, the pace of recovery for Russian oil output has slowed.

After Russia began its war on Ukraine, the production of its products fell in March and April. As buyers in Asia bought oil at discounted prices, its output began to recover.

In June, when the war in Ukraine began, Russia's crude shipments to China and India were at their peak. In the week of July 15th, flows to Asia fell to their lowest four week average in nearly four months.

Russian refineries have stepped up their runs and supplies to domestic facilities were above average in June.

Russia has been making a lot of money from selling its oil at cheaper prices. Even as sanctions batter its economy, its sales have helped the Kremlin increase its emergency fund.

Analysts say that global demand would need to fall in order for Moscow to suffer a hit to oil income.