Russia continued to hold the top position in India’s crude oil imports despite pressure and warnings from the United States. India maintained strong purchases from Moscow even after the Trump administration imposed an additional 25% penalty tariff.
Indian crude imports from Russia surged in 2023 after the Ukraine conflict began, as Moscow offered oil at significant discounts. Data also indicated that the trend continued through 2023 and 2024, even as US officials repeatedly raised concerns over India’s growing energy trade with Russia.
US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods in July 2025, raising pressure on exporters, and later imposed another 25% duty linked to Russian oil purchases.
Department of Commerce data showed Russian oil imports between August and November stayed around 6.5–7.7 million tonnes, roughly 1.6–1.8 million barrels per day.
However, the impact of US sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, implemented on November 21, 2025, became visible later. In December and January, Russia’s share in India’s crude imports dropped to 25% and 20%, with volumes at 5.8 million tonnes and 4.5 million tonnes respectively.
While official crude import figures for February are yet to be released, analytics firm Kpler estimated that India imported just over 1 million barrels of Russian oil per day, totaling nearly 4 million tonnes during the month.
In 2025, India bought around 263 million tonnes of crude oil from various regions, with about 85 million tonnes (32.3%) coming from Russia.
New Delhi has also expanded its supplier base by adding West Africa, the United States, and Latin America. However, disruptions in West Asia due to regional conflict and restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz have again pushed India to rely on Russian supplies for energy security.
Officials say Russia remains India’s largest crude supplier, despite geopolitical pressure and fluctuating volumes. Sources also noted that India never halted Russian oil imports, even when the US linked the removal of a proposed 25% penalty tariff in trade talks to reducing such purchases.
Recently, the US granted India a 30-day waiver to continue buying Russian oil. Sources said the move simply removed a “point of friction,” emphasizing that India has always sourced crude based on availability, pricing, and delivery, while Russia continues to be a key supplier.
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