India has significantly increased its crude oil imports from Russia amid shifting global energy dynamics. Data shows Indian refiners have been purchasing large volumes of discounted Russian crude, helping Russia sustain oil export revenues despite Western sanctions targeting Moscow over the Ukraine conflict.
Since early 2022, India’s Russian oil purchases have soared, with the country becoming one of the top buyers of Russian crude, alongside China. India imported around 1.85 million barrels per day of Russian crude in 2023, replacing the European Union as Russia’s largest crude customer. In 2024, Russian crude accounted for approximately 35 percent of India’s total oil imports, up sharply from less than 2 percent in 2019.
The Jamnagar refinery operated by Reliance Industries, Asia’s richest individual Mukesh Ambani’s flagship asset, has increased its acquisition of Russian crude from 3 percent before 2022 to around 50 percent now. This shift allowed Indian refiners to save billions of dollars due to price discounts offered by Russia in response to Western sanctions.
While India has increased its reliance on Russian oil, purchases dipped in July 2025 as refiners reduced intake due to smaller discounts and seasonal declines in fuel demand during the monsoon. Nonetheless, Russia remains India’s top crude supplier followed by Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Indian refiners have also diversified, increasing imports from the US and other countries.
The surge in Russian oil purchases has caused friction in India-US relations. The US government imposed a 25 percent tariff on Indian imports related to Russian oil, accusing Indian firms of profiting from discounted purchases. Indian officials have defended their energy strategy, asserting their right to strategic autonomy and citing national interest in sourcing oil at competitive prices.
Meanwhile, Russia is reportedly exploring a trilateral energy cooperation framework with India and China to further strengthen ties amid shifting geopolitics. The trilateral approach aims to deepen collaboration in oil trade, refining and energy security.
Overall, India’s rising oil imports from Russia underscore the evolving global energy landscape, with New Delhi balancing economic benefits and diplomatic challenges as it navigates complex global rivalries.
