India Sees Sharp Drop in Russian Oil Imports After US Sanctions
India’s imports of crude oil from Russia fell significantly in the week ending October 27, 2025, following the announcement of U.S. sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil. Tracking data shows flows dropped to about 1.19 million barrels per day (bpd) from around 1.95 million bpd in the preceding two weeks.
Sanctions Trigger Shift
The U.S. sanctions, announced on October 22 2025 and set to take full effect by November 21, target Rosneft and Lukoil, which account for a large share of Russia’s oil exports. In the week under review, shipments to India from Rosneft fell from approximately 1.41 million bpd to 0.81 million bpd, and Lukoil recorded no exports to India, down from about 0.24 million bpd.
Impact on Indian Refiners
Indian refiners are reportedly pausing new contracts to import Russian crude as they assess exposure to secondary sanctions. Given tanker transit times via the Suez Canal can be up to a month, industry sources say a further steep drop is expected once the sanctions deadline passes.
Broader Implications
This shift forces India to explore alternative crude sources from Latin America, West Africa and the Middle East. While the country remains a large purchaser of Russian oil, the sanctions regime underscores geopolitical risks in energy sourcing and may alter trade flows going forward.
