India’s Russian Crude Imports Fall in December
India’s imports of Russian crude oil fell sharply in December 2025, dropping about 29% compared with November, reaching their lowest levels since the global price cap on Russian oil was implemented. The decline was reported by energy analysts tracking shipment data.
Refiners Reduce Purchases
The drop was driven mainly by major refiners cutting back on Russian crude. Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery significantly scaled back supplies, and several state-owned refineries also reduced their purchases during the month.
Position Among Global Buyers
Due to the reduction, India slipped from being the second-largest buyer of Russian oil to the third position globally in December, with China and Turkiye ahead in total volumes. Despite the plunge in Russian crude imports, India’s overall crude oil imports grew slightly in the same period.
Early Signs of Recovery
Preliminary data for early January 2026 indicates that purchases from Russia have started to recover, with shipments rising again after the December dip.
