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As a lot as 38% out of an estimated 5.2 million barrels per day of crude oil imported within the first half of August got here from Russia, in keeping with world real-time information and analytics supplier Kpler.
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Imports from Russia at 2 million bpd had been up from 1.6 million bpd in July. The improve in Russian movement was at the price of purchases from Iraq, which declined to 730,000 bpd in August, and Saudi Arabia which fell to 526,000 bpd from 700,000 bpd final month.
The U.S. was the fifth largest provider at 264,000 bpd, in keeping with Kpler.
“Russian crude imports into India have so far remained resilient in August, even after the Trump administration’s tariff announcement in late July 2025,” stated Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst (Refining&Modeling) at Kpler. “But the stability we’re seeing now is mostly a result of timing – August cargoes were locked in back in June and early July, well before any policy shifts.” What’s exhibiting up within the information immediately displays selections made weeks in the past, he stated, including any actual adjustment in flows – whether or not as a result of tariffs, fee points, or transport friction – will solely begin changing into seen from late September by way of October arrivals.
He famous that there is been no authorities directive to chop Russian volumes. “So from a policy standpoint, it’s business as usual”.
Arvinder Singh Sahney, chairman of Indian Oil Corporation — India’s largest oil agency —- too stated the federal government has not given any instruction to go sluggish on purchases from Moscow within the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s determination to slap a further 25 per cent tariff on US imports from India — elevating the general obligation to 50 per cent — as a penalty for the nation’s continued imports of Russian oil.
“Neither we are being told to buy nor told not to buy,” he stated. “We are not making extra effort to either increase or decrease the share of Russian crude.” Russian oil accounted for about 22% of the crude processed by IOC in April-June and the volumes are anticipated to stay the identical within the close to future, he stated.
Separately, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) Director (Finance) Vetsa Ramakrishna Gupta on an investor name stated imports from Russia had declined final month from 34 per cent of general imports in June quarter, as reductions on it had narrowed to $1.5 per barrel.
“As long as there is no new sanction on Russian oil, our procurement strategy will be 30-35% of Russian crude for the remaining year,” he had stated.
India, the world’s third-largest oil shopper and importer, had swiftly substituted market-priced oil with discounted Russian crude following Western sanctions on Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Russian oil, which accounted for lower than 0.2% of India’s imports earlier than the battle, now makes up 35-40% of the nation’s crude consumption. The reductions nonetheless have narrowed from a excessive of $40 per barrel to only $1.5 final month.
Discounts this month have risen to over $2 per barrel.
Ritolia stated Indian refiners are watching the scenario intently. “There’s growing interest in sourcing more barrels from the US, West Africa, and Latin America, not necessarily because they are walking away from Russian supply, but to hedge against possible disruptions. It’s a shift in mindset – from margin maximization to energy security and logistical risk management.”
He nonetheless hastened so as to add that purchasing extra cargoes from elsewhere on the earth doesn’t imply Indian refiners are changing Russian barrels. “Crude buying is a continuous, complex process-driven by refinery configuration, grade compatibility, and economics. Indian refiners still need to source 60–65% of their crude from non-Russian suppliers, and that mix hasn’t suddenly changed. What we’re seeing is added flexibility, not a deliberate pivot. Until there’s a clear policy change or sustained shift in trade economics, Russian flows remain part of India’s crude basket and talk of replacement is premature.” Sahney stated at no time was import of crude oil from Russia sanctioned and so India continued to buy retaining in thoughts financial issues.
“Such purchases will continue unless sanctions are imposed,” he stated. “We have not got any instruction (from the government) to either increase or decrease purchase. We are doing business as usual.”
About speak of refiners being requested to extend purchases from the U.S. in a bid to placate Trump, IOC Chairman stated, “Neither are we being told to buy more nor are we told to buy less from U.S. or any other destination. Economic considerations dictate our actions.”
