India’s government maintained its policy of not issuing official directives on Russian crude purchases even as imports declined significantly in late 2025, allowing market forces to guide refiners’ decisions. Data shows that US crude imports to India increased by 65.6% to $8.2 billion during April-December 2025, while Russian crude imports fell by more than 17%, declining from $40 billion to $33.1 billion year-on-year.
December 2025 witnessed the culmination of this market-driven shift. Russian crude shipments to India decreased by 15.15% to $2.71 billion from $3.2 billion in December 2024, making Russia the only supplier among India’s top five to record negative growth. This occurred without any official government statement directing refiners to cease or reduce Russian crude purchases.
Other major suppliers captured the market share released by declining Russian imports. Saudi Arabia demonstrated exceptional growth of 61%, delivering crude worth $1.75 billion in December 2025. The United States posted a 31% increase to $569.30 million. Iraq contributed $2.37 billion, up 4.56%, while the UAE supplied $1.65 billion, reflecting a 6% annual rise.
When questioned specifically about this matter, a government spokesperson emphasized that ensuring energy security for 1.4 billion Indians remains the supreme priority, with diversification based on objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics being central to strategy. The US imposition of a 25% punitive tariff on Indian goods on August 27, 2025, created market incentives that influenced procurement patterns without requiring government intervention.
India’s total crude oil imports from all sources reached $11.29 billion in December 2025, up 9.1% from $10.34 billion in December 2024. Cumulative imports for April-December 2025 totaled $105.10 billion, compared to $109.33 billion in the corresponding period of 2024.
Government Maintains Silence on Russian Crude as Market Forces Drive Procurement Changes
