Russian Crude Still Fuels India Despite US Pressure; Moscow Remains New Delhi's Top Oil Partner

New Delhi's energy calculus continues to tilt towards Moscow, even as Washington sharpens its trade stick. Data for 2025 shows Russian crude remained India's single largest source of oil imports, despite repeated warnings from the United States and the imposition of penal tariffs by President Donald Trump's administration, according to a report in The Times of India.

India's appetite for Russian barrels surged after the Ukraine war broke out in 2022, when Moscow began offering steep discounts. By 2023 and 2024, imports had stabilised at 1.5-2.1 million barrels per day, even as US officials argued that such purchases undermined Western sanctions designed to squeeze Russia's war revenues.

The pressure intensified last July when Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods, followed by an additional 25% duty linked directly to New Delhi's continued sourcing of Russian oil. Yet commerce ministry figures show imports from Russia remained robust through August to November 2025, averaging 6.5-7.7 million tonnes a month, or 1.6-1.8 million barrels daily.

A dip was visible only after fresh US sanctions on Russian majors Rosneft and Lukoil took effect on November 21. December imports fell to 5.8 million tonnes, accounting for 25% of India's crude basket, while January volumes dropped further to 4.5 million tonnes, or 20%. Independent analytics firm Kpler estimated February flows at just over 1 million barrels per day, translating to nearly 4 million tonnes.

Overall, India imported 263 million tonnes of crude in 2025. Russia supplied 85 million tonnes, or 32.3% of the total. Officials point out that diversification has been underway, with West Africa, the US and Latin America added to the sourcing mix. But with West Asian supplies disrupted by conflict and shipping restrictions through the Strait of Hormuz, Moscow remains a fallback option.

"Russia continues to be India's largest supplier, despite fluctuations in volumes and geopolitical headwinds. Its share may decline, but it will remain among the top," a senior official said.
Sources emphasised that India never halted Russian purchases, even when Trump linked withdrawal of penalty tariffs in a proposed trade deal to New Delhi's pledge to stop buying from Moscow. The recent 30‑day waiver announced by Washington was described as merely "removing a point of friction" rather than altering India's stance.

Officials underline that India's policy is guided by affordability and accessibility, not external diktats. "We source crude from wherever supplies are available, competitively priced and deliverable - and we will continue to do so," one official remarked, signalling that despite diplomatic turbulence, Russian oil will remain a fixture in India's energy security strategy.

Meanwhile, Washington has asked New Delhi to purchase over 100 million barrels of Russian crude waiting offshore for Chinese refineries.

In an interview, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said, "I did call up the Indians, as did Treasury Secretary (Scott) Bessent, and say, look, there's a whole bunch of oil that's floating to wait to unload at Chinese refineries,"

"There's over 100 million barrels of floating Russian crude waiting in line to deliver to China," Wright added.