India’s Russian Oil Imports Reach €2.5 Billion in October Ahead of New US Sanctions
India’s imports of Russian oil hit €2.5 billion in October 2025, making it the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels after China. Despite Western pressure and upcoming US sanctions targeting Russian oil exporters, India’s crude imports from Russia remained steady or slightly increased. Private and state-owned refiners both expanded their Russian oil purchases, with import volumes around 1.6–1.7 million barrels per day.
In October 2025, India’s imports of Russian oil totaled approximately €2.5 billion, confirming its position as the world’s second-largest purchaser of Russian fossil fuels, behind China. According to reports, India’s overall fossil-fuel imports from Russia were valued at €3.1 billion, with Russian crude oil imports constituting a significant portion. Import volumes averaged around 1.62 to 1.69 million barrels per day, reflecting either a stable or slight increase compared to previous months. Both private refiners and state-owned companies increased their intake, with some refineries, like Nayara Energy’s Vadinar refinery, boosting production capacity primarily using Russian crude. These import patterns continued despite growing international pressure and fresh sanctions by the US targeting Russia’s major oil exporters, Rosneft and Lukoil, expected to take effect in December. India’s strategy appears to balance maintaining its energy security with navigating geopolitical pressures, with crude imports from Russia accounting for a substantial part of its overall fossil-fuel procurement. Other countries like Turkey and the EU also remain large buyers but at lower import values than India and China. This sustained import level suggests that India is preparing for the impact of upcoming sanctions while continuing to source discounted Russian oil to meet its energy demands.
