India to Slash Russian Oil Imports Following US Sanctions, Seeks Alternatives
India’s top refiners, including Reliance and state-owned companies, plan to substantially reduce direct Russian crude oil imports starting late November to comply with new US sanctions. They are diversifying supply sources, increasing imports from the Middle East, Latin America, the US, and Africa. Russian oil deliveries are expected to sharply decline in December with a gradual recovery by early 2026 through intermediaries.
India’s largest refiners, which previously imported over half of the country’s Russian crude oil, are preparing to cut direct imports following US sanctions effective November 21 targeting Russian companies Rosneft and Lukoil. Reliance Industries, along with state refiners Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd and HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd, have confirmed plans to stop Russian crude purchases. These three accounted for more than half of India's 1.8 million barrels per day of Russian imports in H1 2025. Nayara Energy’s refinery, partially owned by Rosneft and already under European Union sanctions, is expected to continue sourcing Russian crude. According to maritime intelligence firm Kpler, Russian oil remained India’s top crude supplier as of October, but deliveries are predicted to sharply decline in December with a gradual recovery by early 2026 through alternative trading routes and intermediaries. To compensate, Indian refiners are ramping up crude imports from the Middle East, Latin America, West Africa, Canada, and the United States, with US crude imports reaching a peak in October. Market and economic factors, alongside sanction compliance, are driving these flows. Higher freight costs may limit substitution scale. Overall, India is balancing adherence to international sanctions while ensuring steady domestic fuel supply through diversified crude sourcing and new logistical arrangements.
