- Category
- Latest news
India Slashes Russian Crude Imports by 45% as US Trade Pressure Mounts—Private Refiners Fill the Gap
- Authors
![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
India’s state-owned refiners have reduced Russian crude imports by over 45% between June and September 2025, dropping from 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) in June to 600,000 bpd in September, The Hindu reported, citing Kpler data on October 13.
The reduction comes amid US pressure, including tariffs tied to Russian oil purchases, as Washington seeks to leverage a trade deal with New Delhi, The Hindu writes.
Despite the cuts by state-run companies, private refiners Reliance Industries and Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy have increased imports.
Reliance now takes 850,000 bpd—double its January levels—while Nayara imported nearly 400,000 bpd in October, its highest this year. Overall Russian crude arrivals in India have remained stable since July at about 1.63 million bpd, according to The Hindu.
The discount on Russian Urals crude, once $6 below the Dubai benchmark, has narrowed to roughly $0.80 per barrel as global freight costs rise and India’s imports continue.
Kpler analysts told The Hindu that while OPEC+ plans to boost production from November, potentially lowering global prices, Russian production pressures following Ukrainian drone strikes on infrastructure may limit export availability, keeping supply tight and discounts minimal.
Previously, it was reported that India has resumed payments for Russian oil in Chinese yuan after a months-long pause, according to Reuters, marking a renewed shift toward non-dollar transactions amid tightening Western sanctions on Moscow.
-457ad7ae19a951ebdca94e9b6bf6309d.png)
