Strait of Hormuz disruptions: India's crude buys from Russia may double from January levels

As proviso disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz proceed owed to the US-Iran war, India has stepped up its purchases of Russian crude oil. In fact, compared to the January levels, India’s procurement of Russian crude whitethorn really double!Russian crude has erstwhile again taken centre signifier amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict, arsenic disruptions successful planetary proviso done the Strait of Hormuz person made it hard for Middle Eastern producers to vessel oil, driving prices sharply higher.

This has had a important interaction connected India, which depends connected imports for astir 90% of its crude lipid needs.Traditionally, India has sourced astir of its crude from the Middle East, peculiarly Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, owing to geographical proximity, established contracts and reliable shipping routes.

Russian Crude Imports May Double!

India and Russia are moving to fortify their vigor ties, with discussions underway to alteration Moscow to restart nonstop liquefied earthy state income to India for the archetypal clip since the Ukraine struggle began.

According to a Reuters report, decisions connected vigor ties took spot connected March 19 successful Delhi betwixt Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Both sides explored expanding crude lipid trade. According to 3 radical alert of the deliberations, Russian lipid supplies to India could emergence sharply, perchance doubling from January levels to relationship for astatine slightest 40% of India’s full imports wrong astir a month!Following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine warfare successful 2022, Russia had emerged arsenic a large supplier, accounting for astir 35–40% of India’s crude imports astatine 1 point.

However, by aboriginal 2026, sanctions led to a diminution successful these purchases. However, the concern has shifted again successful March 2026 aft the Donald Trump medication introduced a 30-day waiver allowing the acquisition of Russian crude successful an effort to stabilise planetary lipid prices. While India ne'er wholly stopped importing Russian oil, volumes had dropped sharply aft sanctions were imposed connected large Russian producers.

After Western sanctions pursuing the Ukraine struggle constricted Russia’s entree to European markets, India accrued its intake of Russian oil, attracted by discounted prices and compatibility with home refineries.Also Read | US-Iran warfare impact: India’s crude imports from Russia adjacent each clip highs; volition specified precocious numbers continue?This strategy helped little import costs and diversify proviso sources. However, towards the extremity of 2025 and into aboriginal 2026, India reduced purchases of Russian crude amid commercialized negotiations with the US and concerns implicit tariffs and sanctions.

In August 2025, the US imposed a 25% tariff linked to India’s Russian lipid imports, portion sanctions connected companies specified arsenic Lukoil and Rosneft further constrained procurement, starring to a gradual dip successful volumes.

That inclination has present reversed.Data from Kpler indicates that India has already bought an estimated 45–50 cardinal barrels of Russian crude since the onset of the Middle East conflict, with existent figures apt higher arsenic April information is inactive pending.

Current trends suggest that March imports could scope astir 1.8 to 2.0 cardinal barrels per day, marking 1 of the strongest months since India importantly accrued purchases aft the Ukraine war.

This compares with earlier levels of astir 1.0 cardinal barrels per day.Historically, India’s highest monthly intake of Russian crude has been successful the scope of 2.0 to 2.1 cardinal barrels per time since 2022. The latest surge indicates that imports are erstwhile again approaching those earlier highs, reversing the diminution seen successful caller months.