Government sources deny pausing Russian oil imports in response to Trump's assertion
India, a major player in the global energy market, has been adjusting its oil purchasing strategy, according to government sources. Contrary to claims made by US President Donald Trump, India has not completely stopped or paused oil imports from Russia. Instead, the country has been reducing its reliance on discounted Russian crude and increasing imports from the US as part of a broader diversification strategy.
Reports suggest that some Indian refiners, including Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp, and Mangalore Refinery Petrochemical Ltd, have temporarily halted buying Russian oil in the past week. However, the Indian government has clarified that there is no pause on oil imports from Russia.
The shift away from primarily discounted Russian crude is driven by compliance risks and cost uncertainties following Western sanctions and related pressures. Before the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Russian oil accounted for less than 0.2% of Indian imports. However, the surge in discounted prices after the conflict saw Russian crude constitute about 35-40% of India's oil imports.
Despite this, India is pivoting to US oil imports, which reflect a growing trend rather than a full stoppage of Russian crude imports. The US has been a significant source of crude oil for India, with imports growing by 51% in the first half of 2025 and expected to rise further.
The MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated that India sources its oil purchases based on global market offerings to meet its energy needs. He also mentioned that India and the United States share a comprehensive global strategic partnership anchored in shared interests, democratic values, and robust people-to-people ties.
Jaiswal reiterated that India-Russia relations are a steady and time-tested partnership. He also stated that India's ties with any country stand on their merit and should not be seen from the prism of a third country.
As of the latest information, no official statement regarding Trump's statement about India stopping Russian oil purchases has been made by the MEA. The MEA is not aware of any specifics regarding the oil imports from Russia. The MEA spokesperson emphasised that India looks at what is available in the market and the prevailing global situation when considering energy sourcing requirements.
In the meantime, the four refiners that temporarily halted Russian oil purchases have turned to spot markets for replacement supply, mostly sourcing Middle Eastern grades such as Abu Dhabi's Murban crude and West African oil.
[1] Source for the first half of 2025 oil import growth figures. [2] Source for the shift in India's oil imports towards the US and away from Russia.
- The ongoing shift in India's oil imports strategy, as reported by various sources, involves a move away from discounted Russian crude and an increasing reliance on US oil, reflecting a broader diversification policy-and-legislation and politics, rather than a complete stoppage of Russian crude imports.
- The growing trend in India's oil imports from the US, highlighted in a recent report, is significant, with imports growing by 51% in the first half of 2025 and expected to rise further, contributing to general-news coverage of India's energy market adjustments.
