Indian refineries with advanced processing capabilities, traditionally major consumers of discounted Russian crude, reduced their purchases significantly in late 2025. Data indicates that US crude imports to India jumped by 65.6% to $8.2 billion during April-December 2025, while Russian crude imports fell by more than 17%, declining from $40 billion to $33.1 billion year-on-year.
December 2025 highlighted this operational shift. Russian crude imports to India decreased by 15.15% to $2.71 billion from $3.2 billion in December 2024, with Russia becoming the only supplier among India’s top five to experience contracting shipments. Industry sources indicate that private refiners, particularly those with advanced facilities capable of processing Russian crude, had been major purchasers due to attractive pricing.
Other suppliers expanded their presence in the Indian market. Saudi Arabia posted remarkable growth of 61%, delivering crude worth $1.75 billion in December 2025. The United States increased shipments by 31% to $569.30 million. Iraq contributed $2.37 billion in crude imports, up 4.56%, while the UAE supplied $1.65 billion, reflecting a 6% annual rise.
The reduction in Russian crude purchases by advanced refineries appears linked to economic pressures. Following the US implementation of a 25% punitive tariff on Indian goods on August 27, 2025, designed to deter purchases of sanctioned Russian petroleum, even refineries technically capable of processing Russian crude reassessed their procurement strategies. Monthly Russian crude imports declined from $3.62 billion in July 2025 to $2.71 billion in December 2025.
India’s total crude oil imports from approximately 39 countries reached $11.29 billion in December 2025, up 9.1% from $10.34 billion in December 2024. For the April-December 2025 period, aggregate imports totaled $105.10 billion, compared to $109.33 billion in the corresponding period of 2024. Officials emphasize that ensuring energy security through diversified sourcing remains the primary objective.