Russia is subtly experiencing India's departure.
India, under increasing pressure from the United States, has started to reduce its imports of Russian oil but has not completely stopped purchases. Indian refiners are temporarily halting spot buys of Russian crude, particularly Urals grade, while awaiting government guidance [4][3].
Despite the pause, India's state-owned companies continue to import Russian oil based on economic viability and discounted pricing, accounting for around 30–40% of its crude imports from Russia in early 2025 [1][5].
In response to U.S. pressure, including threats of higher tariffs on Indian exports, India has started increasing imports of oil from other countries to partially replace Russian barrels. Indian refiners have nearly doubled their intake of U.S. oil since May 2025, with potential to rise further toward previous highs near 300,000 barrels per day [3]. India has also increased imports from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including specific blends typical for Indian refiners [3].
India's shift in oil import patterns is summarized as follows:
| Supplier Country | Notes on Indian Import Pattern | |------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Russia | Still ~30–40% of crude import; pause or reduce spot buys under US pressure | | United States | Imports nearly doubled from early 2025; ~225,000 bpd and potentially higher | | United Arab Emirates | Increased imports, including specific blends typical for Indian refiners |
India maintains that its energy decisions are driven by economic and national interests rather than geopolitical pressure, and continues to resist full alignment with U.S. sanctions while managing trade tensions, including imposed tariffs on Indian exports by the U.S. over Russian oil purchases [1][2][4][5].
The U.S. president is putting pressure on India as a state, rather than individual companies [6]. The specific details of purchases by Indian refiners remain confidential due to confidentiality agreements. However, it is clear that India is diversifying away from Russian oil under U.S. trade pressure primarily by increasing imports from the U.S. and Gulf countries like the UAE, but Russian oil remains a significant component of its supply for now [3][4][5].
- The U.S. President's pressure on India extends beyond individual companies, influencing policy decisions in diverse sectors such as industry, finance, politics, and general-news, as India diversifies its oil imports.
- Despite increasing imports from the U.S. and United Arab Emirates to partially replace Russian barrels, Russian oil still comprises about 30–40% of India's crude imports, showcasing the intricate dynamics between global oil trade, finance, and politics.
