India’s petroleum crude import landscape witnessed dramatic changes throughout 2025, characterized by a substantial increase in American crude purchases and a corresponding decline in Russian supplies. Government statistics reveal that US crude imports jumped by more than 65.6% to $8.2 billion during April-December 2025, while Russian crude imports fell by over 17%, declining from approximately $40 billion to $33.1 billion in the same timeframe.
December 2025 marked a turning point in India’s energy procurement relationships. Among the country’s five primary crude suppliers—Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the United States—Russia uniquely experienced a contraction. Russian crude imports decreased by 15.15% to $2.71 billion in December 2025, a significant drop from the $3.2 billion recorded in December 2024.
The performance of India’s other major crude suppliers contrasted sharply with the Russian decline. Saudi Arabia achieved the most remarkable growth, posting a 61% year-on-year increase to deliver $1.75 billion worth of crude in December 2025. US crude shipments to India grew by 31%, reaching $569.30 million in the same period. Iraq contributed $2.37 billion in crude imports, reflecting a 4.56% increase, while the UAE supplied $1.65 billion, up 6% from the previous year.
Industry observers attribute the sharp decline in Russian crude imports to the economic pressure applied through US trade policy. The imposition of a 25% punitive tariff on Indian goods, effective August 27, 2025, was specifically designed to deter India from purchasing sanctioned Russian petroleum. The effectiveness of this measure became apparent as monthly Russian crude imports dropped from $3.72 billion in November 2025 to $2.71 billion in December 2025.
Overall, India imported crude oil worth $11.29 billion from about 39 countries in December 2025, representing a 9.1% increase compared to December 2024’s $10.34 billion. Cumulative imports for April-December 2025 totaled $105.10 billion, down slightly from $109.33 billion in the corresponding period of 2024. Government spokespersons emphasize that energy security for the nation’s 1.4 billion people remains the paramount concern, with diversification strategies adapting to market conditions and international developments.